Twelve soldiers died during naval exercises in the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan

At least twelve servicemen died Thursday during exercises by Kazakhstan's naval forces in the Caspian Sea “due to a sharp deterioration in weather conditions,” authorities said. “During a combat training exercise, 17 people were washed out to sea,” the administration of the Mangystau (or Manguistau) region in western Kazakhstan said on Telegram. “Twelve people died and three were rescued. The search to find the two other soldiers continues,” according to the same source.

The accident was caused by “a sudden deterioration in weather conditions and strengthening winds,” the administration said. The previous report, established by the Ministry of Defense, reported nine deaths. The General Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan announced the opening of an investigation.

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Precise circumstances still unknown

The accident occurred off the coast of the Mangystau region and concerns the area covered by the garrison of Aktau, the capital of this region. Defense Minister Daouren Kossanov was dispatched to Aktau, according to the ministry's press service. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed a government commission “to take all necessary measures to establish the circumstances of the accident and provide assistance to the families of the victims,” the presidential administration said on Telegram.

On Tuesday, the ministry announced the start of military exercises called “Defense of the Caspian Sea - 2026” in the Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea, which also borders Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. More than 500 servicemen from the Kazakh navy are participating in these maneuvers, as well as units from the coast guard and the air force, according to the ministry.