Five officials from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense have been detained in connection with the deaths of servicemen in the Caspian Sea.

Axar.az reports, citing Kazakh media, that according to Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry, senior and high-ranking military officials were detained on suspicion of criminal offenses related to negligence in service and violations of navigation rules that resulted in serious consequences.

Those detained include the Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Kazakhstan’s Naval Forces, two military unit commanders, as well as the commanders of a marine infantry company and a boat.

All five have been designated as suspects and placed in a temporary detention facility operated by the Aktau City Police Department.

A pretrial investigation is underway into the deaths of servicemen during the “Khazar Qorgany – 2026” military exercise.