Nine Military Personnel Killed in Kazakhstan Caspian Sea Drills

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense announced Thursday the deaths of at least nine military personnel following an incident during naval exercises in the Caspian Sea. Severe weather and strong winds swept 19 servicemen offshore, resulting in nine fatalities, while rescue teams evacuated three others. Search operations for the missing are currently underway. Kazakhstan's Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the deaths. The incident occurred during maneuvers at the Aktau military base, capital of the southwestern Mangystau region. Personnel from the Ministries of Interior and Emergency Situations, along with the Public Prosecutor's Office, are participating in the inquiry. The Ministry of Defense's press office reported Defense Minister Dauren Kussainov was dispatched to Aktau to monitor the situation. These "Caspian Sea Defense - 2026" exercises began last Tuesday, involving over 500 Kazakhstani navy personnel, coast guard units, and air force elements. The drills are taking place in the Kazakhstani sector of the Caspian Sea, shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan.