In the summer of 2014, units of the brigade fought hard on the Russian-Ukrainian border, in the Azov region, and, in the winter of 2016, near Avdiivka in the industrial zone.

In August 2017, the brigade received an honorary title after the military formation of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Black Zaporozhian Cavalry Regiment.

In 1992, Colonel Volodymyr Lytvyntsev – Commander 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division of the Kyiv Military District was given the rank of Major General.

[12] On August 23, 1995, Colonel Nikolai Nikolaevich Tsytsyursky, Commander 72nd Mechanized Infantry Division of the 1st Army Corps of the Odesa Military District, was given the rank of Major-General.

[14] On June 29, 1999, the 72nd Guards Mechanized Division of the Operational Command North of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was given the honorary title of "Kyiv".

[22] The 72nd Brigade was assigned to defend a frontage of approximately 70 kilometers in the form of a "180-degree arc" from Stoianka [uk] just west of Kyiv to Brovary at its east.

The Ukrainian army was under the impression that if Kyiv were to be attacked, the main Russian assault would come from the direction of Chernihiv in the northeast, and thus the majority of the 72nd Brigade, comprising its 1st and 3rd Mechanized Battalions, artillery, anti-tank, and other support units, was deployed from its base in Bila Tserkva to Kyiv's eastern flank by 22 February.

[23] The brigade's 2nd Mechanized Battalion was deployed to defend a 22-kilometer line northwest of Kyiv along the Irpin River from Horenka to Lyutizh.

The brigade met their formations armed with western supplied weaponry such as FGM-148 Javelin and NLAW destroying tanks from as far as a mile away.

As the operation progressed, more Ukrainian units from the Georgian Legion and Air Assault Forces joined the fight, denying Russia the ability to fly in troops via Il-76.

[26] Later, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade posted on their Facebook an image of Ukrainian soldiers celebrating while holding a bullet-riddled flag inside Hostomel Airport.

The majority of losses came when the Russian units were concentrated by artillery fire, stalling their advance for several days and leading to the infamous 40-mile convoy north of Kyiv.

Heavy fighting in the area resulted in substantial casualties to the brigade's professional soldiers causing many of their positions to be replaced by conscripts.

The brigade assessed that 600 Russian troops and 30 armored vehicles entered their area of operation culminating in a battle in late October.

[31] By January 2023, the brigade fortified Vuhledar following Pavlivka's fall against a renewed assault from the 155th Guards Naval Infantry.

The Russian advance was initially successful, breaking through frontal lines, however, ultimately failed as casualties mounted due to frontal assaults, lack of ammunition for their organic fire support, the use of their T-80 tanks in an indirect fire role, and lack of staffing to properly organise an offensive.

The deputy commander complained by then to war correspondents that his troops lacked air defences and were "exhausted" because they had had zero rotations since February 2022.

[34] The commander Ivan Vinnik was promoted and transferred to a different position amidst a worsening condition for the brigade in Vuhledar.

The upper part contained symbols of the division: a bow with three arrows taken from coat of arms of Bila Tserkva on a fortress wall with a rising sun.

[43] On August 23, 2017, in order to restore the historical traditions of the National Army on the names of military units, given the exemplary completion of the tasks, high rates in combat training and on the occasion of the 26th anniversary.

The deviation tape is a curved ribbon with the motto of the horse regiment of the Black Cossacks "Ukraine or Death" in the middle.

[49] In December 2019, the brigade received a personal honorary standard (Korogwa) based on the historical symbolism of the Horse Regiment of Black Cossacks.