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

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1729

Location

حي الميسر, Al Mayssar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and five civilians died in alleged Russian air or artillery strikes on Aleppo's Al Maysar neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Several sources reported the use of cluster bombs. On November 29th, Shof reported: "Activists said cluster bombs targeted the neighborhoods of Qatraji, al-Myaser, Dhahra Awwad and Al Mouasalat. The civil defense…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1724

Location

حي, Al Salheen neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between four and nine civilians including a child died in alleged Russia or Assad regime air and/or artillery strikes on Aleppo's Al Salheen neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. AleppoAMC said that nine had died 9 in "air raids and artillery shelling". LCCSY pointed towards Russia, while the Syrian Network for Human Rights attributed…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–9
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1725

Location

حي كرم البيك, Karam al Bayk neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
AleppoAMC reported that three civilians died in "air and artillery shelling" in Aleppo's Karam al Bayk neighbourhood - but didn't specify the culprit of the civilian harm. According to LCCSY, "by the end of Tuesday 29/11/2016 the LCCSY documented the deaths of 85 martyrs in Syria including 16 children and 10 women: 54 martyrs in Aleppo…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1730

Location

حي الانصاري, Al Ansari neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
AleppoAMC reported that eight civilians died from "air and artillery shelling" in Aleppo's Al Ansari neighbourhood, though it didn't specify the culprit. According to @friend_sy "helicopters targeted the vicinity of Zarzur hospital in Al-Ansari district in Aleppo, the only hospital remaining in the besieged neighborhoods of Aleppo, and destroyed an ambulance". A number of other sources…

Summary

Published
29 November 2016
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
8
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28–29 November, 2016

Incident Code

RS1717

Location

قرية العنكاوي, Al A’nkawi village, in Sahil al Ghab, Hama, Syria
Syria News Desk reported: "In Sahil al Ghab, western Hama countryside, two civilians were killed and five others wounded by a raid by Russian warplanes on the village of Al Ankawi under the control of the opposition, which also resulted in the destruction of two houses". Egypt Today also put the death toll at two…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2016

Incident Code

RS1718

Location

الشعار, Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between seven and 12 civilians including children and women died and dozens more were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Aleppo's Al Shi’ar neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. Reports were conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime caused the civilian harm, though multiple reports mentioned the use of cluster bombs and missiles.…

Summary

Published
28 November 2016
Civilians reported killed
7–12
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident