14 servicemen die in Caspian drill: Kazakhstan dismisses its defense minister and detains five officers
After the September 24 tragedy, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev replaced the defense minister; the Navy chief of staff and other officers are under investigation for negligence.
Kazakhstan is mourning servicemen killed during the "Caspian-2026" (Caspian Defense) military exercise held in the country's southwest on September 24. According to the Defense Ministry, a sudden deterioration in the weather and strong winds swept 17 servicemen into the sea during the drill. Three were rescued and the remaining 14 died; their bodies were recovered over the following days.
Mourning and dismissal
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered condolences to the families and declared September 25 a nationwide day of mourning. By two presidential decrees, Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov was relieved of his duties and replaced by Aidos Myrzakhmetov, previously commander of the special operations forces.
The detained officers
Five representatives of the Armed Forces' highest and senior command were detained in connection with the servicemen's deaths. They include the Chief of Staff — First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, two military-unit commanders, a marine infantry company commander and a patrol-boat commander. The investigation is proceeding under articles on negligence in service and violation of ship-handling rules that led to the deaths.
