MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry's colleges train specialists in 280 disciplines and plan to admit about 18,000 students and cadets this year, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"The gradual increase in the strength of the Armed Forces implies the training of a large number of officers. We have to admit about 18,000 motivated and prepared students and cadets this year," Shoigu said at a teleconference on Tuesday.
Particular attention will be given to children of servicemen taking part in the special military operation, as well as students of the Suvorov and Nakhimov military schools and presidential cadet colleges, he said.
"Our educational institutions currently offer training in 280 disciplines," he said.
Inventions and "innovation proposals have been actively implemented in the troops' training process and everyday activities," he said
"About 4,000 people have been engaged in scientific-technical endeavors, which is 18% more than last year," he said.
This figure has grown owing to a contribution made by crews of tanks, self-propelled artillery systems, and fighting vehicles, as well as engineers and scouts involved in the special military operation, he said.
"Certain proposals aimed at improving the protection of personnel and making the operations of weapons and equipment more efficient have already been implemented in special operation areas," he said.