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

15 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2896

Location

ارناز, Arnaz, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria
Four civilians were killed, including three named victims, and as many as 10 others were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes which struck the vicinity of Arnaz, Aleppo, according to local media. All sources attributed the blame to Moscow. According to local media, members of the Civil Defence in Aleppo worked retrieve the dead and wounded…

Summary

Published
15 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
3–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2897

Location

معصران, Ma'saran, Idlib, Syria
An unspecified number of "civilian causalities" were reported by local media, following what was believed to be an alleged Russian raid on a camp for Internally Displaced Peoples in Ma'saran. Sources all blamed Russian warplanes, however one source did blame the Syrian regime. They are an unreliable source as they are "pro-regime" according to Airwars…

Summary

Published
15 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2894

Location

بكسريا, Baksriya, Idlib, Syria
An unspecified number of civilians were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Baksriya, according to local media. Both sources blamed Russia for the raid. One source reported that no civilian casualties were found in the wreckage, however the other said there was wounded among the rubble. According to the Syrian Civil Defence twitter page "The…

Summary

Published
15 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14–15 January, 2018

Incident Code

RS2893

Location

دير شرقي, Deir Sharqi, Idlib, Syria
Six civilians were killed - including four children - and as many as five more were injured when long-range-missiles from a Russian ship struck the vicinity of Deir Sharqi, according to local media. All sources blamed the Russian warship for the raids, expect Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian Network for Human Rights who…

Summary

Published
14 January 2018
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
4–6
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2889

Location

كفر بطيخ, Kafr Batikh, Idlib, Syria
Three to four civilians were reportedly killed, and dozens more were wounded in airstrikes which struck the vicinity of Kafr Batikh. Sources blamed both Russia and the Syrian regime for airstrikes. Sources reported that RPGs were fired on the vicinity by SU 24 planes, which are Russian. The event was described as a massacre, due…

Summary

Published
13 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
8–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 January 2018

Incident Code

RS2891

Location

سرجة, Sarja in Jabal Al Zawiya, Idlib, Syria
Three to four civilians were reported killed and as many as ten civilians were injured in alleged Russian and Syrian regime raids on Sarja. A woman was included in the injured, an a child was included in the death toll. Sources blamed both the Syrian regime and Russia fo the strikes. One source blamed an…

Summary

Published
13 January 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
1–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident