Five senior military officials in Kazakhstan have been detained following the deaths of 14 service members. The service members were among 17 swept into the Caspian Sea on Thursday during military exercises, with three rescued.
Those detained include the chief of staff and first deputy commander of Kazakhstan's Naval Forces, two military unit commanders, and the commanders of a marine company and a boat. They are suspected of criminal negligence.
The incident occurred during a combat training mission approximately 43km (27 miles) from Aktau, reportedly due to a sharp deterioration in meteorological conditions and increasing winds. A pretrial investigation is underway, examining decisions made during the exercise's organisation and execution, adherence to safety requirements, consideration of weather conditions, and the boat's technical specifications.
The Kazakh ministry of defence stated that more than 500 military personnel, warships, and coastal units were participating in the Caspian Defense 2026 military exercise.