Bodies of three soldiers killed in Caspian Sea drills returned to Uralsk

September 25, 2026 at 12:20 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

The bodies of three servicemen from West Kazakhstan Region killed during Caspian Sea drills were flown to Uralsk on September 25. A farewell ceremony and funeral will take place on September 26. The regional administration said financial aid will be provided to the families on the president's instructions.

Key Facts

A special flight carrying the bodies landed at Uralsk airport at 08:45 on September 25.
The deceased are Zhanis Temirgaliyev, Umirbek Omirzak, and Akzhaik Gilazh.
The farewell ceremony and funeral are scheduled for September 26.
The tragedy occurred on September 24 when 17 servicemen were swept into the open sea during a sudden storm.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September 25 a day of national mourning.

Return of the Fallen

The bodies of Zhanis Temirgaliyev, Umirbek Omirzak, and Akzhaik Gilazh arrived at Uralsk airport on a special flight at 08:45 on September 25. The West Kazakhstan Region akimat announced that the farewell ceremony and funeral will take place on September 26. Local executive bodies will provide financial assistance to the families on the instructions of the head of state, with business representatives also offering support. The situation is under the personal control of the regional akim.

The Caspian Tragedy

On September 24, during a combat training exercise by the Naval Forces, a sudden storm and gusty wind swept 17 servicemen into the open sea. Twelve people died and three were rescued, according to Kursiv.kz; Nur.kz reported 14 dead. A government commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev has been created to investigate the causes of the incident. A criminal case on negligence and violation of navigation rules has been opened and is under special control of the Prosecutor General's Office. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September 25 a day of national mourning in Kazakhstan.

Search and Aftermath

The search operation involved hundreds of people and dozens of pieces of special equipment. The Prosecutor General's Office reported that 30 servicemen were questioned and a circle of suspects was identified. On September 25, the bodies of two more servicemen were found in the Caspian Sea, and the Ministry of Defense completed the search and rescue operation. Doctors reported on the health condition of one of the survivors in Aktau.