14 Soldiers Drown Under Weight Of Combat Gear During Kazakhstan Drill, Five Officials Detained | Sahara Reporters

The Kazakh Defence Ministry said the soldiers were disembarking from the Kaisar military vessel in water approximately one metre deep when strong winds swept them towards the open sea.

Kazakhstan has launched a criminal investigation into the deaths of 14 soldiers who drowned during a military exercise in the Caspian Sea, with commanders facing scrutiny over alleged failures to protect the troops.

The Sun reported that the soldiers, mostly conscripts aged between 19 and 23, were swept into the open sea on Thursday in the Mangystau region after strong winds and deteriorating weather conditions disrupted the exercise. Seventeen soldiers reportedly entered the water, while three survived.

Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who heads the commission investigating the incident, said officials whose actions or failure to act contributed to the deaths would face legal consequences.

“All officials whose actions or inaction led to this tragedy will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Bozumbayev said.

The Kazakh Defence Ministry said the soldiers were disembarking from the Kaisar military vessel in water approximately one metre deep when strong winds swept them towards the open sea. The report said the soldiers were allegedly unable to escape the water because of the weight of their combat equipment.

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor-General’s Office said investigators had identified officials suspected of negligence, including personnel accused of failing to ensure adequate supervision and safety measures during the exercise.

“Officials suspected of negligent performance of their duties have been identified, including those who failed to ensure proper control and the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of personnel,” the office said.

Investigators have inspected the scene, questioned more than 30 military personnel and seized documents and video recordings linked to the incident, according to the report.

The Caspian Post reported that five officials within Kazakhstan’s Defence Ministry system had been detained over the deaths. Those detained reportedly include the first deputy commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces and chief of staff, commanders of two military units, a marine company commander and the commander of the Kaysar patrol boat.

The investigation is examining whether military officials failed to consider the weather conditions and whether mistakes during the rescue operation contributed to the loss of life.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a day of national mourning for the deceased soldiers and ordered payments of £42,000 to the families of each victim.

The deaths occurred during the Khazar Qorgany 2026 naval exercises, which began on September 22 in Kazakhstan’s sector of the Caspian Sea.

The drills involved more than 500 military personnel, naval ships, boats, hydrographic vessels, Coast Guard units and aviation from the Air Defence Forces.

The incident has prompted scrutiny of the military command responsible for the exercise, including the role of Navy chief Captain First Rank Kanat Niyazbekov.

However, the report did not establish whether he had been implicated in the investigation.

The tragedy occurred as Kazakhstan hosted a forum with China, where President Tokayev and other attendees observed a moment of silence in honour of the deceased servicemen.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the responsibilities of the officials involved.