MOSCOW, September 2. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry’s military academies’ training programs in 2016 have been adjusted with taking into account the snap checks of the troops and combat experience of Russia’s forces in Syria, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.

"It is important to emphasize that this year's training programs for higher military educational establishments have been adjusted to reflect the results of surprise combat readiness inspections of troops and the experience of the Russian Aerospace Force and Navy operation in the Syrian Arab Republic", the minister said at a conference call at the Russian Defense Ministry.

According to him, 14,500 students of military academies, cadets of military schools and students of pre-higher education institutions of the Defense Ministry have started training in the new academic year, together with schoolchildren and students.

Russia launched an operation against militants the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) in Syria on September 30, 2015, at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In addition to the Aerospace Forces, the Russian Navy has also been involved in the operation. In addition, Russian troops have taken part in a mine clearing operation in Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra. In March 2016, Putin ordered to withdraw the main part of the Russian aviation group from Syria.