Kazakhstan Mourns 19 Sailors Lost in Caspian Sea Military Exercise

Kazakhstan declared September 25th a day of national mourning following the deaths of 19 naval servicemen during military exercises on the Caspian Sea. The tragedy occurred in the Mangystau region while the soldiers were conducting a landing operation from the "Kaysar" boat as part of the "Khazar Korgany - 2026" drills. According to the Akorda agency, the head of state signed the order for the day of mourning.

The incident was attributed by the Ministry of Defense to a sudden deterioration in weather conditions, including strong winds, which swept a group of servicemen into the open sea. However, meteorological services had reportedly issued a storm warning in advance. Of the servicemen caught in the adverse weather, three were rescued, and searches for any remaining individuals were ongoing.

The "Khazar Korgany - 2026" exercises, which began on September 22nd, involved over 500 military personnel, ships, boats, and aircraft. Following the disaster, the Prosecutor General's Office initiated a criminal investigation, and the government established a special commission to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy. The Ministry of Defense has begun releasing the official lists of the deceased.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its condolences to Kazakhstan, expressing deep sympathy for the loss of the servicemen and offering support to their families and the nation's leadership. Similar expressions of sympathy were received from Azerbaijan and Russia. In the city of Aktau, all planned festive events, including a city day festival and gala concert, were canceled due to the tragedy.

The incident has sparked significant public reaction and drawn parallels to a similar naval exercise accident in the Caspian Sea in 2015. Investigations at the scene are continuing.