Less than a month after 14 service members died during military exercises in the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan has approved plans to overhaul conscript training and introduce new safeguards against abuse in the armed forces. The reform plan was approved at a Security Council meeting on October 21, with the main changes scheduled for 2027.
The September 24 tragedy prompted an investigation that uncovered serious failures in the planning of the exercises and measures to protect soldiers. A wider inspection of the Defense Ministry has since led to 13 criminal cases involving suspected embezzlement, abuse of authority, and other violations.
New Training System Aims to Reduce Abuse
Beginning in 2027, Kazakhstan plans to divide its mandatory 12-month military service into two stages. Recruits will spend their first six months at training centers and the remaining six months in military units, where they will continue combat training alongside their assigned formations.
The change is intended to help conscripts adjust to military life and reduce the risk of hazing.
Political analyst Gaziz Abishev believes that separating initial training from regular military service will make it easier for commanders to monitor abuse.
“Amid the chaos of a regular military unit, it’s much harder to keep track of abusive behavior by people who are out of control. It will be easier at a training center. Officers will be personally accountable for the safety of conscripts,” he wrote on Telegram.
The military also plans to appoint military counselors and an ombudsman for service members. The aim is to give soldiers and their families somewhere to turn when their rights are violated.
Askhat Aimagambetov, a member of Kazakhstan’s parliament, the Kurultai, welcomed the initiative, citing cases of violations of service members’ rights and the difficulties their relatives have faced in seeking justice.
“Now service members and their parents will have a direct, legally recognized advocate,” the lawmaker said.
A New Drone Force
The plan also calls for the establishment of dedicated drone forces and an expansion of the network of specialized military schools.. The move reflects the growing importance of unmanned aircraft in modern warfare, demonstrated particularly by the war in Ukraine, where relatively inexpensive drones have proved capable of destroying far more costly military equipment.
Organizational preparations are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with the main reforms planned for 2027.
The wider inspection of the Defense Ministry is also due to be completed by the end of the year. Although preliminary findings have exposed serious failings, the commission’s full conclusions have yet to be published.
Kazakhstan’s Military Capabilities in Central Asia
Kazakhstan ranks 58th among 145 countries in the 2026 Global Firepower ranking, behind Uzbekistan, which holds 53rd place. Turkmenistan ranks 78th, Tajikistan 100th, and Kyrgyzstan 109th.
According to Global Firepower estimates, Kazakhstan’s defense budget for 2026 is approximately $5.84 billion, compared with around $6.21 billion for Uzbekistan.