But this draft comes as Vladimir Putin and the West are building up militaries amid rising tensions

The men were given medical examinations and identical uniforms in Omsk before kissing families goodbye

for bi-annual draft which has taken place in spring and autumn since 1967


Some had smiles on their faces while others looked concerned as they left home for an uncertain future.

Dozens of young men lined up in Omsk for the annual Russian autumn conscription where men aged 18-27 are obliged to spend a year in national service.

Drafts take place twice a year - one in spring and one in autumn - but the timing of this one comes as President Vladimir Putin is beefing up his armed forces amid rising tensions with the West.

Goodbye kiss: A soldier is bid farewell by a loved one, pictured, as he embarks on a year of national service for Russia

Physical: Men aged 18-27 were called up in a bi-annual draft and were given medical checks in a recruitment centre in Omsk, pictured

We'll meet again: Once they completed procedures, the men were packed onto a train at a station in Omsk, pictured, and sent off to be deployed, as their families crowded around the departing carriages

Brave soldier: A woman kisses a smiling conscript, pictured, as he heads off to an uncertain future with tensions rising between Russia and the West

High spirits: Many looked chirpy as they answered the bi-annual draft - which takes place in spring and autumn - and lined up to go through the process at the Omsk centre, pictured

Chilly: The city is south-west Siberia and the conscripts quickly donned their coats and winter caps, pictured, to keep warm

It comes days after Russia launched wide-spread nuclear defence drills while the country has also tested an RS-18 ballistic missile allegedly to see if it could defeat US defence systems.

Meanwhile NATO has responded with plans to deploy the biggest force in Eastern Europe since the Cold War.

The conscripts were pictured lining up for medical tests in their underwear where they opened their mouths for doctors to inspect, had their chest size taken and general fitness assessed.

Once in dark green uniform, they all began to look the same due to the standard 'buzzcut' haircuts they were given.

They proceeded to sit on long benches eating meals out of metal trays and plastic cups, although the recruitment centre was not quite as basic as it appeared as many troops were seen charging their smartphones in plug sockets.

Breathe in: One of the first steps conscripts have to go through is a physical exam in their underwear, with one young man having his chest size taken pictured here

Say ahh: Doctors and nurses checked out each trooper, pictured, to see whether they were able to complete national service

Open wide: The men were pictured lining up one-by-one to enter the doctors' office to be given the once over

Say what you see: Eye tests, pictured, were also given to make sure they were fighting fit to serve their country

Once their forms and papers had been approved they began to be shipped out, although they were allowed to say goodbye to loved ones, with many tearing up as they kissed their parents and partners farewell.

Many wrapped up in thick coats to stay warm and smoked cigarettes together before boarding a train to be deployed, with conscripts usually sent far away from their home towns on assignment.

They sported traditional Russian winter caps and were seen examining their weaponry before boarding the huge train, where soldiers waved through the windows at their families as it left the station.

As reported by MailOnline, Britain is to send 800 troops, tanks and jets to Estonia to deter Russian aggression while UK and Romanian forces will also join a US battalion in Poland

RAF planes are also being dispatched to patrol Romanian airspace for the first time in a move designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine.

Papers, please: Another step in the process was bringing their passports and papers to be inspected by officials, pictured

Paperwork: Each conscript was given a pack of forms to fill out, likely about their medical histories

Identity: Each conscript had to bring their IDs and were given military service record books at the centre in Omsk

One size fits all: Once they completed their medical checks the troops were fitted for their uniforms, including traditional Russian military caps, pictured

It goes on your head: The young men will likely need the headgear to keep warm considering many of them have had their heads shaved, pictured

Lace-up: A conscript ties his boots up as he puts on his military uniform at the Omsk recruitment centre, pictured

Sir Michael Fallon said the British mission would incorporate Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior vehicles and hand-held drones.

Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated due to Moscow's indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Aleppo.

President Putin sent a fleet of eight Russian warships through the English Channel to assist the assault on the besieged Syrian city.

But he dismissed claims he is planning to invade another country calling warnings of a new Cold War 'stupid' and 'unrealistic' even as Russia launched a new super stealth submarine.

Line-up: There is little to distinguish between the men in their identical uniforms and near identical hairstyles

Grubs up: The men were taken into a large cafeteria where they were served food in tin plates and drinks in plastic cups, pictured

Tasty: They were each given a slice of bread to go with a bowl of soup and what appears to be a rice dish, pictured

Modern way: What sets this group of conscripts apart from those who have passed through the Omsk centre decades before is the raft of mobile phones plugged in to charge, pictured

Tip of the hat: Conscripts adjust their winter caps in the mirror as they ensure they look prim and proper in their uniforms

Deadly: Soldiers examine machine guns and pistols, pictured, they will use for training in the coming year

Smoking: Another common sight throughout the history of warfare, these Russian soldiers are quick to light up cigarettes as they stand around in the cold of Omsk, pictured

In an interview earlier today, he said he didn't want world domination or a confrontation with any country, adding that Russia 'values its independence.'

He added: 'We have seen some countries pushing globalisation serving only them, but not all countries.

'Convenient for some countries to paint themselves as defenders of civilisation and bend allies [to their will].'

Putin made the speech as the Russian navy unveiled their new super-stealth submarine, which will be deployed in the Black Sea.

The Veliky Novgorod is the latest addition to the Black Sea fleet and is capable of striking land, sea and underwater targets.

Eskimo kiss: Although they are parting, both this soldier and his loved one, pictured, seem happy at his call-up despite the lingering threat caused by military expansion in the West and East

All smiles: Most of the conscripts could not take the smiles of their faces as they headed off to to their part for Russia

Miss you: But some looked far more solemn as they said their goodbyes and embraced, pictured, ahead of a long separation

Russian ships were expected to stop in Spain to refuel but the country withdrew permission for the ships to dock earlier this week under pressure from NATO because Moscow was unable to pledge the vessels would not be used to bomb Syria.

The UK force in Estonia will be joined by French and Danish companies. At least two RAF Typhoons will be sent from RAF Coningsby to the Black Sea region for four months as part of an air policing mission over Romania.

And a 28-strong team will go to Kosovo to provide reassurance in the Western Balkans and troops will be dispatched to Poland next year.

Bi-annual conscription in Russia has been a tradition since 1967 under the Soviet Union, although the duration was cut from two years of service to one in 2008.

There are some exceptions, with full-time students attending university or in military school exempt from the draft.

Luggage: Soldiers were loaded up with bags and boxes as they boarded their train to take them on deployment

Forlorn: For some sitting down on the train and looking at their families out of the window was the moment the seriousness of the situation appeared to sink in , pictured