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

21 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0185

Location

حي الحلوانية, Al-Bab Road (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Up to two non-combatants including two women and two female children were reported killed, and four civilians injured, in alleged Russian airstrikes with vacuum missiles on the Bab Road neighbourhood, according to The White Helmets and the Syrian Observatory. Reporting was confused, with the death toll ranging from one to seven. Mada also claimed the…

Summary

Published
21 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0182

Location

خان السبل, Khan Subul, Idlib, Syria
At least five civilians, including two women and two children, were killed in alleged Russian evening airstrikes that targeted Khan Subul. Step TV later interviewed an eyewitness, an unnamed boy who notes: “A plane hit here and hit our neighbour’s home, so they were martyred. This is where it happened; it was Russian planes.” The…

Summary

Published
21 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
5–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0186

Location

حي طريق السد, Tareeq al Sadd, Daraa, Syria
Ten non-combatants, including five women and four children, were killed in an airstrike on the Tareeq al Sadd (Dam Road) neighborhood in Dara’a, according to multiple reports. The Union of Hama Rebels stated that one child, Limar Mirzo al-Teani, was killed in the alleged raid, while Shaam News Network posted a video depicting the dead bodies of a…

Summary

Published
21 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
10
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0174

Location

ميدان الغزال, Maydan al Ghazal, Hama, Syria
Up to four civilians were reported killed when missiles were allegedly fired from Russian warships, hitting the village of Maydan Al Ghazal. One eyewitness filmed in the aftermath insists “this was caused by Russian ballistic missiles hitting shepherds and farmers living here. They are not terrorists and they’re not armed.” The Syrian News Desk cited…

Summary

Published
20 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0170

Location

كفر زيتة, Kafr Zita, Hama, Syria
Two civilians were killed in an alleged Russian bombing of the town of Kafr Zita, according to multiple sources. Syria News Desk cited local media activist Abdel-Rahman al-Ali was saying that “Russian jets targeted three raids north side of Kafr Zita, killing two people and destroyed four houses.”  

Summary

Published
20 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0176

Location

الناجية, Najieh, Idlib, Syria
Up to four children were reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Najieh, according to the Violations Documentation Center. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two children died. the Violations Documentation Center (VDC) named two children victims of the strike and another two as unidentified.

Summary

Published
20 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident