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

11 October 2017

Incident Codes

CS1620 RS2624

Location

المجاودة, Al Mjawda, Deir Ezzor, Syria
According to local sources, up to 12 civilians were killed in an airstrike on the town of Mjawda. Local sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with some attributing blame to Russia, while others attributed blame to the US-led Coalition. Both the Violations Documentation Center and Euphrates Post identified eight victims of the…

Summary

Published
11 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
0–12
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

11 October 2017

Incident Code

RS2626

Location

صبيخان, Sabikhan, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Up to four civilians, including one woman and two children, were killed and several were wounded following aerial and ground shelling of Sabikhan village, Deir Ezzor, local media reported, though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Without identifying the culprit, Euphrates Post reported that Sabikhan…

Summary

Published
11 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 October 2017

Incident Code

RS2627

Location

القورية, Qouriya, Deir Ezzor, Syria
At least 20 and as many as 40 civilians, including women and children, were killed and "dozens" were left wounded following alleged Russian or Assad-waged airstrikes on the border crossing between the towns of al-Qouriya and al-Tayana, multiple local media reported. Referred to as a "massacre", several sources reported a death toll between 30 and…

Summary

Published
11 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
20–40
Civilians reported injured
24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 October 2017

Incident Code

RS2625

Location

الطيبة, al-Taybah, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Two civilians were killed in airstrikes in al-Taybah in Deir Ezzor, local media reported, though sources didn't identify the culprit. One of the two sources reporting from the incident merely reported  airstrikes, not  civilian harm, while the other, Euphrates Post, reported the death of two named civilians. While no belligerent was associated with the incident…

Summary

Published
11 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

RS2619

Location

الميادين, al-Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, Syria
Three male victims, reportedly cousins, were killed and several other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or Assad regime strikes on al-Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor, local media reported. Several sources reported the death of the three named victims. One of these was the Facebook account, Ahmad Abush, who listed the three victims and referred to them as…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2017

Incident Code

RS2620

Location

الظافرية, Al-Zaferiya, Hama, Syria
Multiple media reported that three civilians, including two women, were killed and up to ten more were wounded following aerial shelling of the village of al-Zafriya, Hama, though it was unclear among the sources who carried out the strikes. Multiple sources reported from the incident, echoing the same thing; namely that three civilians were killed…

Summary

Published
10 October 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident