Kazakhstan strengthens military control and will punish officers over soldiers' deaths
Kazakhstan has strengthened control within its military units and will take action against officers following the tragic deaths of several servicemen in early 2026. This was announced by the press service of the country’s Ministry of Defense.
The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized its responsibility for the safety of soldiers. The statement highlighted that «emergency measures have been implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.» These measures include intensified control over discipline and educational work, stricter safety requirements for handling weapons and conducting training, as well as sending commissions to all military units to reassess the psychological state of the soldiers.
Additionally, the Ministry has increased personal accountability for commanders and sergeants, organized checks by military police, and introduced round-the-clock monitoring of personnel, including during off-duty hours. The Ministry has also set up continuous video communication between soldiers and their families, and commanders are now required to maintain regular contact with parents via official communication channels.
«Specific personnel and disciplinary decisions have been made regarding all incidents. The commanders of the Regional Command ‘East’, the Chief of Staff, and the Deputy for Educational and Ideological Work have been held accountable. The commander of the military unit where the death occurred, his deputy, and the battalion commander have been relieved of their positions,» the Ministry of Defense stated.
The deaths of servicemen in the Kazakh military have been a recurring issue, which has repeatedly drawn attention from the public and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Last summer, he instructed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov to «intensify efforts to reduce the number of tragic incidents in the military,» but the number of such incidents has not decreased.
In January 2026 alone, three soldiers' deaths were reported. On January 23, a soldier died from a gunshot wound while on guard duty in Ust-Kamenogorsk. On January 27, another soldier died from a fatal injury while handling a weapon in Zhambyl Region, and on January 6, a serviceman of Kazakhstan’s National Guard died from a sudden heart failure in Shymkent.
In a January interview with Turkistan newspaper, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the deaths of servicemen during their military service are unacceptable.
The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized its responsibility for the safety of soldiers. The statement highlighted that «emergency measures have been implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.» These measures include intensified control over discipline and educational work, stricter safety requirements for handling weapons and conducting training, as well as sending commissions to all military units to reassess the psychological state of the soldiers.
Additionally, the Ministry has increased personal accountability for commanders and sergeants, organized checks by military police, and introduced round-the-clock monitoring of personnel, including during off-duty hours. The Ministry has also set up continuous video communication between soldiers and their families, and commanders are now required to maintain regular contact with parents via official communication channels.
«Specific personnel and disciplinary decisions have been made regarding all incidents. The commanders of the Regional Command ‘East’, the Chief of Staff, and the Deputy for Educational and Ideological Work have been held accountable. The commander of the military unit where the death occurred, his deputy, and the battalion commander have been relieved of their positions,» the Ministry of Defense stated.
The deaths of servicemen in the Kazakh military have been a recurring issue, which has repeatedly drawn attention from the public and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Last summer, he instructed Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov to «intensify efforts to reduce the number of tragic incidents in the military,» but the number of such incidents has not decreased.
In January 2026 alone, three soldiers' deaths were reported. On January 23, a soldier died from a gunshot wound while on guard duty in Ust-Kamenogorsk. On January 27, another soldier died from a fatal injury while handling a weapon in Zhambyl Region, and on January 6, a serviceman of Kazakhstan’s National Guard died from a sudden heart failure in Shymkent.
In a January interview with Turkistan newspaper, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the deaths of servicemen during their military service are unacceptable.
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