Kazakhstan Navy drill off Aktau kills 14 servicemen, three rescued

October 1, 2026 at 07:42 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A Kazakh naval exercise in the Caspian Sea turned deadly on September 24 when 17 servicemen were swept out to sea during a landing drill near Aktau. Fourteen died and three were rescued, prompting a national day of mourning on September 25.

Key Facts

The accident occurred on September 24 during the Khazar Korgany-2026 naval exercise, 43 kilometers from Aktau.
Seventeen servicemen were swept into the sea; 14 died and three were rescued.
Kazhydromet had issued a storm warning for the region from the evening of September 23 to the evening of September 24.
A national day of mourning was declared in Kazakhstan on September 25.
The exercise involved more than 500 naval personnel, warship crews, coastal units, coast guard forces, and air defense units.

The Accident

The Khazar Korgany-2026 naval exercise began on September 22 in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea. More than 500 servicemen, warship crews, coastal units, coast guard forces of the National Security Committee Border Service, and air defense units took part. On September 24, during a landing from the Kaisar boat near Aktau in adverse weather, a group of servicemen was swept into the open sea. Kazhydromet had issued a storm warning for the evening of September 23 through the evening of September 24, forecasting dust storms and southeast winds of 15-20 meters per second.

Rescue and Aftermath

A search and rescue operation began immediately, led on site by then Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov. An operational headquarters included representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the National Security Committee Border Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and local executive bodies. The Ministry of Defense initially reported 19 people in the water, with nine dead and three rescued; the number of confirmed dead later rose to 12, with two missing. The bodies of Sergeant Mansur Gumarov and sailor Miras Turdybekuly were found the next morning, bringing the death toll to 14. A national day of mourning was declared in Kazakhstan on September 25.