ع
The Defence Ministry said 17 personnel were swept into the open sea while disembarking from the patrol boat Qaisar some 43 kilometres from Aktau in the Mangystau region when weather conditions deteriorated sharply with strengthening winds. Three of those thrown into the water were rescued while the other 14 perished in the incident that occurred during the Khazar Korgany-2026 exercises. Naval Forces Commander Kanat Niyazbekov told local media the victims were mainly conscripts aged 19 to 21 with several nearing completion of their service terms.
Search and rescue efforts continued around the clock under the direction of Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov and involved 252 service personnel along with 37 divers, 14 vessels, 34 pieces of specialised equipment and more than 20 aircraft including four helicopters. The bodies of the final two missing servicemen, Sergeant Mansur Gumarov and Seaman Miras Turdibekuly, were located at around 9:15 a.m. on September 25, allowing authorities to conclude the operation. The Defence Ministry had earlier confirmed that 12 bodies were recovered on the day of the incident.
According to the Interior Ministry five senior officials from the Defence Ministry system were placed in custody on suspicion of negligent performance of duties and violations of navigation rules that resulted in the fatalities. Those detained include the first deputy commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces who also serves as chief of staff, commanders of two military units, the marine infantry company commander and the captain of the Qaisar vessel. The Prosecutor General’s office opened a criminal investigation examining whether weather conditions were properly assessed and if safety measures had been followed during the exercise.
The drills brought together more than 500 sailors and marines supported by Coast Guard units from the National Security Committee, hydrographic vessels and Air Defence Forces aviation, the Defence Ministry reported. Niyazbekov stated that the group had been conducting a combat training task when the sudden change in conditions occurred. The Interior Ministry noted that the suspects are being held at a temporary detention facility in Aktau while pre-trial inquiries continue.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the formation of a government commission to clarify all circumstances surrounding the tragedy and declared September 25 a nationwide day of mourning. Attendees at the Kazakhstan-China Forum observed a moment of silence in honour of the deceased, the presidential press service said. The Defence Ministry extended official condolences to the families of the victims and pledged full support during the mourning period.
Reuters reported that Kazakhstan maintains a naval force of about 3,000 personnel on the Caspian Sea responsible for protecting its maritime borders and offshore energy infrastructure. The service operates patrol and missile boats in a region that has seen heightened strategic interest in recent years. The incident has drawn renewed attention to safety standards in military training across the Central Asian state’s armed forces.
