Aktau residents lay flowers at Eternal Flame for 14 sailors killed in Caspian Sea

September 26, 2026 at 12:56 PM1 min

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Residents of Aktau are laying flowers at the Eternal Flame to honor 14 servicemen killed during a naval exercise in the Caspian Sea on September 24. The funerals took place on September 26 in three districts of Mangystau region with military honors. A government commission led by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev is investigating the incident.

Key Facts

14 servicemen died after being swept into the Caspian Sea during naval exercises in Mangystau region on September 24, 2026.
Three servicemen were rescued from the water.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September 25 a day of mourning.
A criminal case was opened under Article 453 Part 2 (negligent attitude to service) and Article 465 (violation of navigation rules) of the Criminal Code.
High-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense were detained after the incident.

Memorial at the Eternal Flame

Residents of Aktau have been bringing flowers and notes of support to the Eternal Flame since the evening of September 25. The notes contain the names of the servicemen and words of condolence to their families. Foreign tourists in the city also left flowers and messages of support. There is no set time for laying flowers; residents can come at any time.

Funerals and Investigation

The funerals of the deceased sailors took place on September 26 in three districts of Mangystau region. The servicemen were buried with military honors. A government commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev was created to investigate the causes of the deaths. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences to the families and declared September 25 a day of mourning.