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

22 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4669

Location

قرية تلتيتا في جبل السماق في ريف ادلب الغربي, Tetita Village, Al Somaq Mountain, Idlib, Syria
Russian airplanes targeted Jabal Al-Summaq or "Jabal Al-Druze" (as referenced to by residents from the Druze sect), in the western countryside of Idlib, allegedly killing two people and wounding up to seven others, with vacuum missiles, on Monday November 22nd 2021. The correspondent for Step News Agency reported that "Russian warplanes bombed with high-explosive vacuum…

Summary

Published
22 November 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

15 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4668

Location

كفرنوان, Kafr Noran, Aleppo, Syria
At least two civilians, a child and his mother, were killed and four to five others, including three to four other children and a man, were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the village of Kafar Noran on November 15, 2021. According to Hasakah News, a woman and her child were killed…

Summary

Published
15 November 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4667

Location

تفتناز, Taftanaz, Idlib, Syria
Two to four people were injured as a result of artillery sheling by the Syrian regime or Russian forces in Taftanaz, east of Idlib on Novemebr 14th 2021.  Local sources reported that this attack was with Krasnopol missiles. Three of those injured were possibly employed by or members of the police force as local sources…

Summary

Published
14 November 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4666

Location

أطراف معرة مصرين, vicinity of Ma'aret Misrin, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, including three children and a woman, were killed and six others, including two children, were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on a home for displaced people in Ma'aret Misrin on November 11, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, five civilians, including three children and a woman, were killed and six…

Summary

Published
11 November 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4665

Location

شادرني, Shaderni, Idlib, Syria
A least one civilian man was injured in alleged Russian strikes on the Shaderni area, Syria, on November 6, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a civilian was seriously injured and a number of cows were killed when Russian planes bombed a farm in the Shaderni area. The White Helmets rescued the injured and…

Summary

Published
6 November 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Livestock)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2021

Incident Code

RS4664

Location

كنصفرة, Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
Between one and three civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling outside of Kansafra on November 1, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, a young man was seriously injured in artillery shelling that targeted workers while they were harvesting the olive crop outside of Kansafra. The injured man was taken to…

Summary

Published
1 November 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident