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

27 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0082

Location

البوابية, Buwaybiyah, Aleppo, Syria
Up to four civilians including a young girl were reported killed following heavy airstrikes at Al Bawabye which were widely attributed to Russia. The White Helmets reported that “Civil defence teams pulled out 4 martyrs in Al Bawabiya.” The Violations Documentation Center later named three fatalities.    

Summary

Published
27 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0080

Location

حيان, Hayyan, Aleppo, Syria
Media activist Jummah Al Ahmad was one of two civilians killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Hayyan, according to reports. According to the White Helmets “A mosque was totally destroyed and two civil defence team members injured in Hayyan centre, Ali Hayek and Ahmad Sarraj” in the attack. A second victim was later named…

Summary

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

Incident Date

27 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0081

Location

حريتان, Hraytan, Aleppo, Syria
Eight named civilians were killed and a number injured in a reported Russian night-time airstrike at Hraytan, near Aleppo. The White Helmets – whose teams worked through the night to retrieve the dead and injured, reported: “Civil Defence team pulls out seven martyrs and several injured following Russian bombardement with vacuum missiles.“ Hraytan City, an…

Summary

Published
27 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0079

Location

كفرنبل‎, Kafr Nabil, Idlib, Syria
A suspected Russian airstrike on the town of Kafr Nabil killed a father and his daughter while injuring the mother and son, according to reports. The dead were later named by Violations Documentation Center as Hatem Khaled al-Khatieb and his 12-year old daughter Diaa Hatem al Khatieb. However Mr al-Khatieb was later named by All4Syria…

Summary

Published
26 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0077

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria
According to the White Helmets in Aleppo, “Russian warplanes bomb the towns of Al Bab and Tadef yesterday evening with several raids using vacuum missiles – leaving several dead and dozens wounded and homes destroyed.” Other reports described two raids on Tadef and one on Al Bab. Radio Al Kul attributed the attacks to the…

Summary

Published
25 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2015

Incident Code

RS0078

Location

الشيخ بركة, Sheikh Barakeh, Idlib, Syria
According to the Syrian Observatory, “suspected Russian warplanes attacked the village of al-Sheikh Barakah in the township of Sinjar in the eastern countryside of Idlib, killing a woman and [her] two children while other civilians were seriously wounded.” A third child died a fews days later of her injuries. The centre of the village was…

Summary

Published
25 October 2015
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
20
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident