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

16 October 2022

Incident Code

RS4729

Location

كفرجنة, Kafr Janna, Aleppo, Syria
Alleged Russian airstrikes in the countryside of Azaz and Afrin, specifically the town of Kafr Jannah and Qatma, resulted in the death and wounding of civilians in addition to the death of up to six militants and the wounding of up to 12 militants. @shaamnews reported that Russian airstrikes hit the countryside of Azaz and…

Summary

Published
16 October 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
2–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 October 2022

Incident Code

RS4728

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
A child was killed and between one and two women were injured in alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al Abzimo on October 10, 2022. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, a child was killed and his mother was seriously injured by artillery shelling launched by the Syrian regime and Russian forces at a residential house…

Summary

Published
10 October 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 October 2022

Incident Code

RS4727

Location

الأبزمو, Al Abzimo, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian was injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian artillery shelling of Al Abzimo on October 6, 2022. The @SyriaCivilDefe reported that a civilian was injured by artillery shelling launched by the Syrian regime and Russian forces. @HalabTodayTV referred to "civilians" as being wounded without specifying how many while @alaskari_media reported that…

Summary

Published
6 October 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4726

Location

ديرسنبل, Deir Sinbol, Idlib, Syria
A child was injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime thermal missile strikes on a car he was traveling in near Deir Sinbol village on September 28, 2022. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, a child was injured by a thermal missile launched by the Syrian regime and Russian forces at the car he was traveling in with…

Summary

Published
28 September 2022
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

27 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4725

Location

قرية كلبيت ,ريف ادلب الشمالي,ادلب, Kalbid area, Aleppo, Syria
On September 27th 2022, between two and eight civilians were reportedly injured, including an elderly woman and a young man, when a Russian air strike hit a refugee camp in the Kalbid area, near the Bal al-Hawa border crossing in Syria. One Syrian Civil Defense volunteer, Hamza Al-Jassem, stated after being at the scene, "it…

Summary

Published
27 September 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
IDP or Refugee Camp
Civilians reported injured
2–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4724

Location

تديل, Tadel village, Aleppo, Syria
Five civilians were reported wounded from the same family, including two children - one critically, two women and a man, as a result of Russian or Syrian regime forces' thermal guided missile which hit their car, as they returned from olive picking in Tadel Village in the western countryside of Aleppo on September 23rd 2022.…

Summary

Published
23 September 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident