Debris believed to be from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been discovered in the Burlin district of West Kazakhstan region. Preliminary information indicates that the explosion occurred early in the morning near the village of Kyzyltal.
According to Uralskaya Nedelya, representatives from the district akimat (local government), emergency services, and local police are currently investigating the scene. The military prosecutor’s office has also been dispatched and has opened a criminal case.
“This morning, a drone of unknown origin exploded near Kyzyltal village in the Burlin district. The roofs of houses in the village were nearly blown off,” eyewitnesses told local media.
The incident coincides with an air threat alert declared in Russia’s neighboring Orenburg region, where authorities reported a potential UAV incursion. The “Kover” plan, a protocol enacted during airspace threats, was implemented at the airports in Orenburg and Orsk.
Police in West Kazakhstan confirmed the incident and stated that a full investigation is underway.
“The police department, in cooperation with authorized agencies, is conducting an investigation into the discovery of what appears to be UAV debris in the Burlin district. All circumstances are being reviewed,” the department’s press service said.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense also responded, noting that no casualties or material damage had been reported.
“In cooperation with relevant state bodies, verification efforts are underway to determine the circumstances and origin of the object. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan has implemented additional measures to enhance airspace control and prevent unauthorized aerial border crossings. Consultations are ongoing with foreign partners who may potentially be linked to the UAV,” the ministry said in a statement.
This incident follows a similar discovery on June 19, when suspected UAV fragments were found in the Karakiyan district of the Mangistau region, near the Bolashak border station. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, in March 2025 there were three drone-related events in West Kazakhstan in one month, raising concerns about airspace security near the country’s border with Russia.
