Russian Military in Syria

In September 2015 Russian military forces intervened in Syria initially as part of a limited campaign against so-called Islamic State terrorists. This campaign turned into more substantive military support to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his deadly fight with opposition groups, killing thousands of civilians in rebel-held areas. Operations came to an end with Assad’s fall in December 2024.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from Russian strikes in Syria and produced research and reports on the conflict.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

4,431 – 6,522

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Russian Military actions in Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Russian Military. These originate from 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
named victims

Russian Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Russian Military actions in Syria, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

22 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3063

Location

كفربطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria
Up to five civilians were killed and several left wounded as Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was subject to Russian and/or Assad-waged air and artillery shelling, local media reported. As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, Baladi News reported how a total of 22 civilians had been killed in Kafar Batna the…

Summary

Published
22 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3059

Location

عين ترما, Ain Tarma, Damascus, Syria
Aerial shelling of Ain Tarma, Damascus, carried out by Russian and/or Assad regime, killed up to six civilians and wounded at least three children, local media reported. As shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, sources reported about both airstrikes and the launch of explosive barrels in Ain Tarma, especially striking residential areas.…

Summary

Published
22 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
5–6
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3064

Location

الأفتريس, al-Aftis, Damascus, Syria
As the shelling of eastern Ghouta continued on its fifth day, four civilians were killed and up to "dozens" more wounded as Russia, possibly in cooperation with the Assad regime, carried out airstrikes in al-Aftis, Damascus, local media reported. All sources, who provided a death toll, reported that four civilians were killed. While some, such…

Summary

Published
22 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3055

Location

عندان, Anadan, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
In this single-source event, Step News Agency reported that two children were injured by an alleged Russian cluster bomb explosion in Anadan, Aleppo. Step News Agency did not not specify the date of the event, and it has therefore been registered as taking place the day it was reported, February 22nd, 2018. Currently, no further…

Summary

Published
22 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3050

Location

سقبا, Saqba, Damascus, Syria
Up to 15 civilians, including three children and three women, were killed along with several wounded as the town of Saqba, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, was struck by air raids, local media reported, though culpability was contested. Like many other towns in eastern Ghouta, it was the third day in a row that Saqba was being struck. Masrawy…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
2–15
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

RS3051

Location

كفر بطنا, Kafar Batna, Damascus, Syria
In what was described as a "massacre", Russian or Assad-waged aerial and artillery shelling killed up to 35 civilians, including at least seven children, and wounded dozens in Kafar Batna, eastern Ghouta, Damascus, as reported by local media. As eastern Ghouta continued to be under heavy aerial shelling, the strikes in Kafar Batna town was…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
10–35
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident