5 Defense Ministry officials detained in Kazakhstan over deaths of military personnel in Caspian Sea

Five officials from Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry have been detained in connection with the deaths of servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea off the coast of the Mangystau Region, Report informs, citing Kazakh media referencing the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The ministry noted that responsible high-ranking and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan were detained on suspicion of criminal negligence in service and violation of navigation rules leading to severe consequences.

"Those detained include the chief of staff - first deputy commander-in-chief of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, two military unit commanders, as well as commanders of a marine company and a vessel. All of them have been designated as suspects and placed in a temporary detention facility of the Aktau city police department," reads the statement.

A pre-trial investigation into the deaths of servicemen during the Khazar Korgany - 2026 exercises is currently being conducted by the military investigation unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.