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

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1439

Location

Al Maysar, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo’s al Mayssar neighbourhood, local media reported. According to the Shaam News Network on October 12th, “Russian and Assad aircraft did not stop from flying in the skies of Aleppo and its countryside and launched dozens of air…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1447

Location

القاطرجي, Al Qaterji (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians died in an alleged Russian or regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Qaterji neighbourhood, according to sources on the ground. More than one source suggested the use of "phosphorus missiles" which is intentionally banned.  Halab News listed two unidentified civilians as killed “following Russian enemy raids with bunker busting missiles”. According to the Shaam…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1448

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
In what local media referred to as a “massacre”, up to 50 civilians died and as many as 51 more were wounded in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes which hit a popular vegetable market and residential buildings in Aleppo’s Al Ferdos neighbourhood. Halab News listed 45 bodies as a result of the strikes, with…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
45–50
Civilians reported injured
11–51
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1449

Location

حي الكلاسة, Al Kalassa (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Six civilians died in an alleged Russian airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Kalassa neighbourhood, local media reported. According to LCCSY, there were “six martyrs and some wounded, most of them still stuck under the rubble, after Russian warplanes carried out bunker buster missile attacks on Kalasah neighborhood.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that “suspected…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1440

Location

الهلّك, al Halak, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and three civilians died and several more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Halak neighbourhood, according to local media. Baladi put the death toll at three, but like most sources didn’t identify the culprit. The Shaam News Network noted that both Russia and the regime shelled…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

RS1450

Location

الزبدية, al Zabadia, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and five civilians died and up to 10 more were wounded in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on Aleppo’s Al Zabadiyeh neighbourhood, according to local media. Shahba and Micro Syria blamed Russia, putting the death toll at three. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Shaam News Network reported…

Summary

Published
12 October 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
6–10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident