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

3 September 2022

Incident Code

RS4717

Location

الفطيرة, Al Fatira, Idlib, Syria
At least one elderly woman was injured when alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling struck the town of Al Fatira on September 3, 2022. According to @SyriaCivilDefe, an elderly woman was injured by artillery shelling carried out by the regime and Russian forces on civilian homes in the town of Al Fatira. The Civil Defense…

Summary

Published
3 September 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

29 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4716

Location

الغانية, Al Ghaniya, Idlib, Syria
At least one woman was injured in alleged Russian or regime shelling of the town of Al Ghaniya on August 29, 2022. @SyriaCivilDefe tweeted that a woman was injured by intense artillery shelling carried out by the regime or Russian forces on the town of Al Ghaniya. @snhr also identified a woman as being wounded,…

Summary

Published
29 August 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

18 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4715

Location

قرية كدورة, Kadora village, Idlib, Syria
Two civilians were injured by alleged Russian or Syrian regime shelling of the village of Kadora on August 18, 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians picking figs were injured by artillery shelling carried out by Russian and/or Syrian regime forces on a farm near Kadora village. The majority of sources attributed the…

Summary

Published
18 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4714

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
At least two people were killed and between one and two others were injured when a previous shelling remnant exploded in the town of Kansafra, south of Idlib on the 16th of August 2022. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two people were killed and another was injured. According to Syrian Network for Human Rights,…

Summary

Published
16 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4713

Location

معارة النعسان, Maaret al-Nassan, Idlib, Syria
The town Maaret al-Nassan was attacked by cluster bombs allegedly as a result of Syrian and Russian regime forces after midnight on August 16th 2022.  Local sources also blamed Iranian-backed militas. While no civilian deaths are reported, a seven year old boy got lightly injured on his arm by a life bullet, while he was…

Summary

Published
16 August 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

15 August 2022

Incident Code

RS4712

Location

بلدة قسطون جنوبي ,ادلب, Qastoun, Idlib, Syria
An eleven-year-old boy called Abdul-Wahhab Ibn Hassan Al-Hanawi was reportedly killed as a result of the explosion of the remnants of a cluster bomb in the town of Qastoun, west of Hama, on August 15th, 2022. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, the killing of Abdul-Wahab marks the second death through unexploded remnants within three…

Summary

Published
15 August 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident