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

27 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0814

Location

اللطامنة, Ltamenah, Hama, Syria
According to LCCSY, “Russian warplanes launched two air rocket cluster bombs on agricultural land in Ltamenah in the northern countryside of Hama.” They said that some farmers had been injured, but provided no further details. Qasioun also blamed Russia. Syrian PC News and All4Syria News (which blamed ‘regime artillery shelling’) reported that there were two civilians…

Summary

Published
27 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land)
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0811

Location

أورم الكبرى, Orm al Kubra, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and six civilians, including an elderly man, two children and three women, died in an alleged Russian strike on the town on Orm al Kubra, according to multiple local sources. The White Helmets reported five raids in which “warplanes” (they didn’t identify them) threw “parachutes carrying cluster bombs”, which killed “an old man”…

Summary

Published
27 May 2016
Civilians reported killed
3–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0812

Location

كفر حمرة, Kafr Hamra, Aleppo, Syria
Seven civilians including three children died in airstrikes on Kafr Hamra according to local sources –  though reports were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the regime. According to Syrian Newsdesk more than fifteen Russian and regime warplane raids in the Kafr Hamra area resulted in the death of a family…

Summary

Published
27 May 2016
Civilians reported killed
7
Civilians reported injured
7–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0815

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
Between nine and 13 civilians including four children were reported killed  – and 20-24 others were wounded – in an alleged Russian airstrike on the Al-Thar’ra bakery in Hraytan, according to local sources. Among the victims were personnel and customers of the bakery, including four children. The strike also hit several cars that were parked nearby,…

Summary

Published
27 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
9–11
Civilians reported injured
20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0810

Location

Afrin-Darat Azza road, Aleppo, Syria
According to reports by the Shaam News Network and multiple other sources, Russian airstrikes targeted the road between Afrin and Darat Azza destroying fuel transport trucks, and killing two drivers and injuring several other civilians in the vicinity. The reports noted that this road was considered to be a “humanitarian corridor” and “one of the…

Summary

Published
24 May 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 May 2016

Incident Code

RS0809

Location

كفر حلب, Kafr Halab, Aleppo, Syria
It was reported that nine female farmers died when remains of cluster bombs allegedly fired by Russia exploded. Al Jisr TV also reported this information, but said this occurred in Kafr Hamra – which is possibly a mistake. Because of near-identical copy by all media, this is presently classed as a weakly reported incident.  

Summary

Published
22 May 2016
Civilians reported killed
9
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident