Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Dismisses Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov After 14 Servicemen Die in Caspian Sea Naval Exercise
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov on Sunday after 14 servicemen died when swept into the Caspian Sea during rough-weather drills in Mangystau. Five officials, including the navy's first deputy commander, were detained. Aidos Myrzakhmetov was appointed as the new defence minister amid a comprehensive ministry review.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov, according to a presidential decree, several days after 14 servicemen were swept out to sea and died during a training exercise. The sudden shakeup in the Central Asian nation’s military leadership was confirmed on Sunday, September 27, 2026, through an official statement published on the presidential website and social media.
“Kosanov Dauren Zhumatyevich has been relieved of his post as defense minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the presidential press service said, Reuters reported. In a concurrent decree, Tokayev appointed Aidos Myrzakhmetov, previously commander of the special operations forces, as his replacement. Kosanov was appointed defense minister in 2025 and was reappointed to the post by Tokayev in September before the fatal maritime incident prompted his immediate removal. UK Police Declare Major Incident at RAF Fairford Which Hosts US Air Force, Bomb Squad Deployed and Homes Evacuated.
14 Servicemen Perish in Rough Seas During Boat Disembarkation
On September 24, 17 servicemen were swept out to sea during naval exercises in the Mangystau Region on the Caspian coast. The incident happened on Thursday when military personnel were disembarking from a patrol boat on the Caspian Sea coast in rough weather as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Fourteen died and three were rescued from the sea by emergency rescue units. Search and recovery teams recovered the remains of the missing soldiers over subsequent operations, prompting national grief and immediate scrutiny into command-level safety protocols during adverse weather conditions. US Fighter Jet Crash: F-16 Fighting Falcon Goes Down at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany; Pilot Injured.
Five Defence Ministry Officials Detained in Criminal Inquiry
A criminal case was opened over the incident, with five Defence Ministry personnel detained, including the chief of staff and first deputy commander-in-chief of the navy. On Friday, Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry confirmed the arrests, noting that investigators are examining breaches of navigation regulations and potential negligence in continuing the coastal exercise despite dangerous sea conditions.
Investigators stated that the servicemen were swept into the sea while disembarking from a boat as weather conditions deteriorated. Legal proceedings are focusing on whether officers ignored marine weather advisories and failed to equip personnel with essential maritime survival gear.
Presidential Commission Formed for Broad Defence Audit
On September 26, Tokayev ordered the establishment of a commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation at the Defense Ministry following the incident. The special panel has been tasked with evaluating training safety guidelines, emergency response capabilities, and operational standards across Kazakhstan's armed services.
The appointment of Aidos Myrzakhmetov, who led the armed forces' special operations units, signals an immediate shift toward enforcing stricter operational discipline and structural oversight within the defence establishment.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2026 03:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
