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

25 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0461

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Between one and six civilians including a child died in airstrikes on Raqqa, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether Russia or the regime were responsible. The Shaam News Network, reported that several non-combatants were killed and several more injured when warplanes “thought to be Russian” carried out airstrikes on areas within…

Summary

Published
25 January 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1–6
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0458

Location

تل رفعت, Tall Rif`at, Aleppo, Syria
Four civilians died and 12 were injured in alleged Russian airstrike on Tel Rifa’at, according local sources. The Syrian Press Centre reported that Russia carried out four raids and that a young man was killed in addition to a number of other civilians being wounded. The Violations Documentation Centre also alleged that this was a Russian…

Summary

Published
24 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0459

Location

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria
Between 13 and 19 civilians including 10 children and three women died in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Bab, according to local sources. Syrian News Desk reported that at least 19 civilians died and more than 30 were wounded when Russian warplanes fired “cluster rockets” on the city “to coincide with helicopter dumping barrel bombs“.…

Summary

Published
24 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
13–19
Civilians reported injured
20–30
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0457

Location

سلقين, Salqeen, Idlib, Syria
Between five and 20 civilians died and 10 to 20 were injured – many critically –  in strikes by Ballistic missiles, according to local sources – though reports are conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Assad regime. The Syrian Committee for Human Rights reported that 10 people died and…

Summary

Published
24 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
5–20
Civilians reported injured
10–20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0455

Location

بزاعة, Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria
Three to four civilian children and one woman were killed in an airstrike on Baza’a, according to local sources – though one report says that they were killed by the regime. The Shaam News Network published a news roundup in which they said that “Russian enemy planes carried out raids on Al Bab, the town…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2016

Incident Code

RS0456

Location

معدان, Ma'adan, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians were killed in an airstrike on Ma’adan, according to local sources – though it is currently unclear whether Russian forces or the Assad regime were responsible for the incident. Only the Shaam News Network blamed Russia for the raid, reporting in a news roundup that “Russian enemy planes launched air raids on civilian homes in…

Summary

Published
23 January 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident