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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

17 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4759

Location

افس, Afes, Idlib, Syria
One child, a girl, and a woman were reportedly injured on March 17th 2023 after an alleged Russian forces or Syrian regime machine gun fire or shelling hit the village of Afes, east of Idlib in Syria. Two sources, the White Helmets and Baladi reported that a child was injured by Russian forces, and the…

Summary

Published
17 March 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 March 2023

Incident Code

RS4758

Location

الاتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
One person, a man, was killed and between one to five other civilians, were injured after mortar shelling attributed to both the Syrian regime and Russian forces hit the outskirts of the city of Atarib, in the western countryside of Aleppo on Saturday March 11th 2023. It's unclear as to whether the man reported killed,…

Summary

Published
11 March 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
1–5
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2023

Incident Code

RS4756

Location

النيرب, Al Nerab, Idlib, Syria
At least two civilians and up to three civilians, including one child, one woman, and one man, were reportedly injured in an artillery shelling attributed to either the Syrian regime or Russian forces which hit residential neighbourhoods and "the vicinity of a closed school" in Al Nerab, a town to the east of Idlib, on…

Summary

Published
27 February 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 February 2023

Incident Code

RS4757

Location

لطريق بين معرة مصرين وادلب, road between Maaret Misreen and Idlib, Idlib, Syria
One civilian was reportedly injured in a shelling attributed to either Russian forces or the Syrian regime on February 27th 2023 when the road was hit by a shell between Maraat Misrin and Idlib, Syria. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that a fire broke out due to the shelling, which they extinguished.

Summary

Published
27 February 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4755

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria
A 15 year old child was injured by an alleged Russian military vehicle in the city of Ain Issa in Raqqa on January 28, 2023. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a 15 year old child was seriously injured when a Russian military vehicle ran the child over on the Main Street…

Summary

Published
28 January 2023
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 January 2023

Incident Code

RS4753

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was injured, and one later died, from alleged Russian and/or Syrian regime shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of the city of Darat Izza on January 21, 2023. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by Syrian regime and Russian artillery shelling of a poultry farm on the outskirts of…

Summary

Published
21 January 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident