A military training exercise in Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ended in tragedy. Seventeen soldiers were swept into the sea during a training and combat mission conducted in the Mangystau region on September 24.
Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry said the incident occurred after meteorological conditions suddenly deteriorated and the wind intensified.

Three soldiers were rescued during search-and-rescue efforts, while authorities initially put the death toll at 12. The bodies of the two missing soldiers were found on the morning of September 25, raising the death toll to 14 and bringing the search-and-rescue operation to an end.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September 25 a national day of mourning across the country for the soldiers who lost their lives. Kazakhstan’s Defense Ministry also announced that financial and psychological support would be provided to the families of the deceased soldiers.
An investigation was launched to determine the causes of the incident. Kazakh authorities are examining the circumstances of the tragedy, including whether there was any negligence during the mission and whether the security measures were adequate.

Messages of condolence were also sent to Kazakhstan from Türkiye. Kürşad Zorlu, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Relations with Turkic States, expressed his condolences to the people of Kazakhstan in a message issued when the initial death toll stood at 12, emphasizing the brotherhood and solidarity between Türkiye and Kazakhstan.