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

4 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0118

Location

بنسن, Banin, Idlib, Syria
One man was reported killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Banin village, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. No further details are known at the present time.  

Summary

Published
4 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0115

Location

الأنصاري, Al Ansari (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
A vacuum missile, allegedly fired by Russian warplanes killed eleven non-combatants and injured about 20 in the Ansari neighbourhood of Aleppo, according to reports. Several homes have destroyed. Four of those killed were brothers and sisters from one family, who died alongside their father. The raid was one of several in neighbourhoods of Aleppo, including an…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
11
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0117

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
Up to 34 civilians were reported killed including a woman and a child, and 50 injured in alleged Russian airstrikes, according to multiple sources. Al A’maq [close to Daesh] claimed there were 26 strikes by Russian warplanes which caused 10 deaths, including two women. They claimed that the city’s general hospital was targeted, along with…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
27–34
Civilians reported injured
50
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0114

Location

حي بستان القصر, Bustan al Qasr (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Local sources that claimed the death of between six and eight civilians including three children and injury of 12 more in an alleged Russian airstrike on Bustan al Qasr. Several houses were also reportedly destroyed. VDC released the names of 8 people that killed, including three children as result of the strike. Additionally, the Violations Documentation…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
12
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0116

Location

حي المشهد, Al Mashad (Aleppo), Aleppo, Syria
Alleged Russian airstrikes reportedly killed at least three non-combatants and injured at least ten in the neighbourhood of Al Mashhad, according to the White Helmets. The group said they recovered three bodies from the rubble and rescued ten people, transferring them to nearby field hospitals. Local media activist Mansour Hussain told Al Araby al Jadeed…

Summary

Published
3 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
3–6
Civilians reported injured
10
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0113

Location

سكيك, Sakik, Idlib, Syria
An initial report by the Violations Documentation Center named one adult male as a civilian medical worker who killed in an alleged Russian airstrike but did not specify the location. However, a later listing by the VDC identified him both as a paramedic and as a non-civilian, killed “during clashes with the regime’s army forces“.…

Summary

Published
2 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident