The Russian Defence ministry holds a ceremony for a group of conscripts in Saint Petersburg before they leave for units where they will carry out their mandatory military service. The conscripts visit a church and bid farewell to their close ones. According to a decree by Russian president Vladimir Putin, 150,000 men aged between 18 and 30 were expected to be called up during 2024 spring draft. Since the beginning of Moscow's offensive against Ukraine, the Defence ministry has repeatedly emphasised that it doesn't intend to involve conscripts in it. IMAGES