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

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0582

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians died and dozens more were injured in alleged Russian airstrikes on Tel Rifa’at, according to local media. The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, 62-year-old Abdul Jabbar Mohammad Mraimini, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on tel Rifa’at. Shaam News Network also reported one death, however it did not specifically…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0578

Location

الفردوس, Al Fardous (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians including one child died and five others were injured, in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous in Aleppo according to local sources. The Violations Documentation Center named a seven-year-old child, Ahmad Mustafa Koja, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Fardous. The VDC also linked to an extremely graphic video posted by…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0580

Location

كفر كلبين‎, Kafr Kalbeen, Aleppo, Syria
Between one and 20 civilians including one child died in airstrikes on Kafr Kalbeen, according to local sources – though they are conflicted or unclear as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. Shaam News Network said there had been “a systematic campaign of shelling Aleppo, where aircraft Russian aggression…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1–20
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0579

Location

مارع, Mare', Aleppo, Syria
Three civilians including one woman died and ten others were injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Mare’ according to local sources. The Violations Documentation Center named two adult males and one adult female as killed in a Russian airstrike on Mare’. The White Helmets said warplanes targeted the town with a vacuum missile, injuring…

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0577

Location

الصالحين, Salheen (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, Abo Yousef Skaif, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Salheen. The victim was also named by Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies, which blamed Russia. Halab News also listed him as killed, but did not say who carried out the attack.  

Summary

Published
9 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2016

Incident Code

RS0575

Location

النعيمة‎, Naemah, Daraa, Syria
The Violations Documentation Center named one adult male civilian, Samer Ali al-Manajrah, as killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Naemah. It linked to a Yaqeen Media Foundation video of the man’s funeral. The voiceover says he was killed after Russian raids targeted the town of Naemah. All4Syria also said Russia had carried out a…

Summary

Published
8 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident