A special inspection commission examining Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense has uncovered severe systemic failures in the planning and execution of naval drills on the Caspian Sea that claimed the lives of 14 service members. The findings were officially disclosed by the presidential press service following a high-level briefing led by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Preliminary investigation outcomes point to gross miscalculations in organizing the military maneuvers and a critical absence of operational oversight by the ministry's former leadership. Following the conclusion of the initial inspection phase, authorities launched 13 criminal cases across defense structures, centering on allegations of embezzlement of state property, abuse of authority, and related official misconduct.

Simultaneously, the country's Supreme Audit Chamber has initiated comprehensive scrutiny across 50 defense installations, including 48 military units, to evaluate the core logistical and operational integrity of the armed forces. The fatal incident unfolded on September 24 off the coast of the Mangystau region, where 17 naval personnel were swept out into open waters by severe gale-force winds during a sudden storm; only three survived.

Denouncing the catastrophe as an unacceptable outcome of executive incompetence and unprofessionalism, President Tokayev dismissed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov shortly after the disaster. Law enforcement agencies have detained five senior commanders, including the Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces, two military unit commanders, a marine company commander, and a naval boat commander.

Source: podrobno.uz