President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed his defence minister and ordered five officers arrested after a Caspian Sea exercise went wrong, leaving 14 marines dead. Tokayev has appointed Aidos Myrzakhmetov as the new defence minister and demanded a full investigation. Seventeen personnel were swept into the sea near Mangistau and only three were rescued. Kazakhstan's navy numbers about 3,000 personnel with more than two dozen patrol vessels, according to the Global Firepower Index.
14 Marines Killed in Caspian Drill — Kazakhstan Fires Defence Minister, Appoints New Commander
FILE PHOTO - Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev walks to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Astana International Airport. (is associated with: «New leadership for Kazakh military after 14 die during military drill») -/Kremlin/dpa
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed Kazakhstan's defence minister and ordered the arrest of five officers after a naval exercise in the Caspian Sea went tragically wrong, killing 14 marines.
New Appointment and Government Response
Media in Astana reported that Tokayev named Aidos Myrzakhmetov as the new defence minister. The president has demanded a full investigation and stressed that commanders at all levels must prioritise the lives and health of their soldiers.
The Incident
During the exercise off the coast near Mangistau, weather conditions reportedly deteriorated suddenly, sweeping 17 service members into the sea. Only three were rescued; the remainder were unaccounted for and later declared dead, bringing the confirmed death toll to 14.
Naval Capacity and Context
Kazakhstan — the largest country in Central Asia — maintains a relatively small naval force to patrol its Caspian coastline. According to the Global Firepower Index, the navy comprises roughly 3,000 personnel and more than two dozen patrol boats and minesweepers.
President Tokayev: "Commanders must make the lives and health of their soldiers a priority."
Authorities say five officers have been detained as part of the investigation into the drill. Military and civilian investigators are expected to examine whether safety protocols were followed and what role weather and operational decisions played in the fatalities.
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