Young Russian men called up for compulsory military service take part in a ceremony at the Trinity cathedral in St Petersburg, before their departure for battle zones in Ukraine.
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IMAGE: A conscript gives the thumbs up inside a bus after the ceremony. All photographs: Anton Vaganov/Reuters
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IMAGE: Russian conscripts take part in the ceremony.
IMAGE: The conscripts are being photographed by their relatives. Who k knows how many will return home from the cruel and brutal war in Ukraine?
IMAGE: Russian conscript Yaroslav, 20, embraces his girlfriend Nadezhda, 22, and sister Lera, 13, before his departure.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com