In February 1992 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the brigade went over to Ukrainian control, against the wishes of its commander V. N. Loginov and without Moscow's knowledge.

The brigade's soldiers had become frustrated over lapses in food and pay due to Russo-Ukrainian disputes over Soviet military unit upkeep, and decided that shifting to Ukrainian command would end those issues.

[13] Pro-Russian protesters blocked the unit's base in Voznesensk on 1 March 2014 and a platoon of soldiers was sent to reinforce and secure the military equipment located at the facility from looting.

[15][16] The unit was deployed to Donbas in May 2014 and fought in a battle in Shakhtarsk Raion where it held the objective of securing both the Russian border and the strategic Savur-Mohyla hill.

[29] In late May 2022, it was reported that units of the brigade were defending the Holy Mountains National Nature Park south of the city of Lyman, attempting to prevent Russian forces from crossing the Siverskyi Donets River.

[32] Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi publicly praised the 79th Brigade in March 2024 for its efforts in repelling Russian attacks on the village of Novomykhailivka.

They claimed to have destroyed several dozen armored vehicles and to have killed over a hundred Russian soldiers and "leaving more of them wounded".

[34] On 1 October 2024, the brigade repelled another Russian assault near Kurakhove, destroying 19 units of equipment, including four tanks and two AFVs.