MOSCOW. May 24 (Interfax) - More than 120,000 junior Russian experts have been trained since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, and over 21,000 troops have been trained for the groups of forces and newly created formations and military units, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"We will further discuss how the training of junior specialists in the Armed Forces is being improved. Since the start of the special military operation, more than 120,000 servicemen have undergone training," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry's leadership on Wednesday.
"Over 21,000 specialists have undergone training directly for the groups of forces and the newly created formations and military units," he said.
"They include around 5,000 [specialists] for operating such high-tech models as the T-90M Proryv [Breakthrough] tank, the BMP-2M [infantry fighting vehicle] with the Berezhok combat module, the BMP-3 [infantry fighting vehicle], as well as various unmanned aerial vehicle systems," the defense minister said.
Shoigu noted that training centers provide not only individual training, but are also train the combat crews and the crews of tanks and combat vehicles, "including for the formations and military units being set up in the new regions."
"Undoubtedly, the workload on the training network has substantially increased recently, but this should in no way affect the quality of the educational process," he said.
"The training programs need to be adjusted, taking the experience of the special military operation into account. Servicemen need to master new combat techniques, be able to use weapons efficiently, [and] know the enemy's tactics and equipment in order to counter it skillfully," Shoigu said.