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

1 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0109

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
A child was killed and ‘dozens of civilians’ were injured “as a result of five Russian air strikes [each strike firing more than one missile] targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Douma” according to the White Helmets. Intense artillery shelling was also reported on Douma. VDC named the child as Judi Bashar al Zhairi, and…

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2015

Incident Code

RS0110

Location

أم صحريج, Um Sirij, Hama, Syria
Two to five children and their mother were reported killed and four more people injured along with up to three civilian adults, after an alleged Russian airstrike on the village of Umm Sirij. Shaam News cited local civil defence as saying that a home had been razed in the attack, with other houses damaged. And…

Summary

Published
1 November 2015
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
4–6
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0104

Location

الحميدية, Hamidiya (Deir ez-Zor), Deir Ezzor, Syria
Four named civilians were killed in a reported Russian or Assad regime airstrike on Hamidiya. The Violations Documentation Center named the victims, all adult males.    

Summary

Published
31 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0103

Location

دوما, Douma, Damascus, Syria
The White Helmets were among those reporting multiple civilian fatalities after a series of alleged Russian airstrikes on Douma. “Since the morning until now, more than 15 strikes,” the civil defence group posted. Syria Reporter published what it said was an image of two Russian aircraft operating over the city that day. The dead were…

Summary

Published
31 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
6–9
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0094

Location

ابديتا, Ibdita, Idlib, Syria
One civilian man named as Ahmed Murr was reported killed and 10 people injured in an alleged Russian morning airstrike on the village of Ibdita. His two sons were also critically wounded in the attack. In a later news feature, Shaam News reported: “Samer was taken to the hospital in Ma’arat, where his body was…

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0091

Location

الرستن‬, Ar Rastan, Homs, Syria
A woman and child (and possibly a third civilian) were killed in an alleged Russian morning airstrike at Ar Rastan. According to the Union of Hama rebels, those killed were “an orphan and his grandmother“. They were later named by VDC.  

Summary

Published
30 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident