On February 17, a conscript soldier died during scheduled field shooting exercises at the Beineu training range in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan. Tengrinews.kz, citing the press service of the Kazakhstan Ground Forces, reports that the soldier sustained a fatal gunshot wound while handling his weapon.
"The military investigative bodies of the Western region have initiated a criminal case. A pre-trial investigation is underway to determine all the circumstances and causes of the incident," the press service reported, according to Tengrinews.kz.
The investigation is under the control of the Prosecutor-General’s Office. A commission, headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Major-General Shaykh-Hasan Jazyqbayev, was sent to the site, according to Fergana.
"The command of the Armed Forces expresses deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. His family will receive all necessary assistance in accordance with the current legislation," the Ground Forces press service added.
Incidents involving the deaths of servicemen in Kazakhstan have occurred regularly, drawing attention from both the public and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Last summer, Tokayev instructed the Minister of Defense, Daulet Kosanov, to "intensify efforts to reduce the number of tragic incidents in the army." However, the number of such incidents has not decreased.
In January 2026 alone, three soldier deaths were recorded. On January 23, a soldier was killed by a gunshot wound during guard duty in Ust-Kamenogorsk. On January 27 in the Zhambyl region, another soldier died from a gunshot wound while handling a weapon. On January 6 in Shymkent, a serviceman of the National Guard of Kazakhstan died of a sudden heart attack, and on January 14, a junior sergeant was killed in a truck accident in the Aktau garrison.
In an interview with Turkistan newspaper in January, President Tokayev stated that the death of soldiers during their service is unacceptable. In response, the Ministry of Defense announced emergency measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future and to protect the lives and health of personnel.
Among the measures implemented were increased control over discipline and educational work, stricter safety requirements for handling weapons and conducting training, as well as thorough psychological assessments of servicemen. Additionally, personal responsibility for commanders and sergeants has been heightened, and "comprehensive checks by military police" were initiated, along with round-the-clock monitoring of personnel, including during off-duty hours.
