

Lieutenant General Kanysh Abubakirov was born on 12 February 1977, in Turtkul village, Ordabasy District, South Kazakhstan Region (now Turkestan Region).
He is a graduate of the Military Academy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Defence University.
He has been awarded the Order of “Aibyn” (Class II), the Order of “Dank” (Class II), and the Medal “For Military Valor”.
In the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General Kanysh Abubakirov advanced from Commander of a reconnaissance group of a reconnaissance company of an air assault battalion to Deputy Minister of Defence. He served as Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of Military Unit 61993, and as Commander of Military Units 22750, 25744, and 61993.
He has also held the positions of Deputy Commander of the Airmobile Forces – Head of the Combat Training Directorate of the Commander’s Office; Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Ground Forces; Commander of the forces of the Regional Command “West”; Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Ground Forces; and First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces – Chief of the Main Staff.
Prior to his current appointment, Lieutenant General Kanysh Abubakirov served as Deputy Minister of Defence for Logistics and Military Infrastructure.
On 17 January 2026, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence – Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.