Tragedy on the Caspian Sea: soldiers died during exercises

The tragedy occurred on Thursday on the Caspian Sea coast near the port of Aktau in the southwest of the country. Seventeen soldiers were swept away by the waves. Three managed to be saved, and the rest died - the bodies of the last two victims were found on Friday.

In connection with the tragedy, criminal proceedings were initiated for neglect of official duties. Investigators are investigating, among others: method of making decisions about carrying out maneuvers, compliance with safety rules, taking into account hydro-meteorological conditions and the technical condition of the ship.

Among those detained were: the chief of staff and the first deputy commander of the navy, two commanders of military units and the commanders of a marine company and a ship that participated in the exercises.

The tragedy in the Caspian Sea is part of the discussion on the safety of service in the Kazakh armed forces that has been going on for several years. In 2021-2024, 40 suicides and several deaths were recorded in the Kazakh military; all these deaths are associated with the so-called wave.

In June, the battalion's deputy commander was sentenced to four years in prison for negligence in the safe handling of weapons, which led to the death of a conscript.