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

4,338 – 6,384

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 4,842 separate alleged incidents.

1,145 – 1,394
children likely killed
632 – 766
women likely killed
6,544
likely injured
3,435
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
15,282 – 24,392
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,842 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,338 – 6,384
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,344 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
727 – 848
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
457 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,113 – 17,043
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,026 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
104 – 117
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
4808 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

1 October 2021

Incident Code

RS4652

Location

Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
جسر الشغور
Between one and two women were injured in alleged regime or Russian shelling on the city of Jisr al-Shughur on October 1, 2021. According to @MMCSYR, two women were injured in regime and Russian shelling on Jisr al-Shughur. Al Mashreq Agency also reported that two women were wounded. A tweet from @rahhalahmad06 provided the casualty…

Summary

Published
1 October 2021
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Incident Date

27 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4649

Location

Majdliya, Idlib, Syria
مجدليا
Between one and two civilians, including a child, were injured in alleged Russian and regime artillery shelling of the town of Majdlaya on September 27, 2021. Syrian Civil Defense reported that at least one civilian, a child, was injured in shelling of the town of Majdlaya and the child was taken to the hospital for…

Summary

Published
27 September 2021
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Incident Date

27 September 2021

Incident Codes

IRS013 RS4648

Location

Kafar Noran, Aleppo, Syria
كفرنوران
Between three and five civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Russian or regime or Iranian artillery shelling and machine gun fire on the village of Kafr Noran on September 27, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, five civilians, including a woman, were wounded in mortar shelling by the Russian and regime forces…

Summary

Published
27 September 2021
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Incident Date

22 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4647

Location

Kansafra, Idlib, Syria
كنصفرة
At least one person was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on Kansafra on September 22, 2021. Sources were conflicted as to whether the man killed was a militant or civilian. According to @ShahbaPress, a civilian was killed and another was wounded in Russian airstrikes on Kansafra. "Zaman Al-Wasl" reporter said that…

Summary

Published
22 September 2021
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Incident Date

19 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4646

Location

Al Kafir, Idlib, Syria
الكفير
A least one civilian, a child, was killed and up to five others, including a woman, were injured in alleged regime or Russian strikes on the town of Al Kafir on September 19, 2021. Firas Al-Khalifa, the media official of the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, told Al-Araby News that a 15-year-old boy was killed,…

Summary

Published
19 September 2021
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Incident Date

18 September 2021

Incident Code

RS4645

Location

Al Kinda, Idlib, Syria
الكندة
At least one civilian, a man, was killed and others were wounded in alleged Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda on September 6, 2021. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, one civilian was killed in Russian airstrikes on the town of Al Kinda. Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the name of the…

Summary

Published
18 September 2021
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