It is situated on the east side of the border with Poland, and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of the city of Volodymyr.

During the times of Kievan Rus (9th to 12th centuries CE), there was a fortified settlement in the same location, with a necropolis nearby consisting of 29 burial mounds.

[3] Following the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in September 1939, Uściług was occupied by the Soviet Union until 1941.

[4][5] The Germans bombarded the town heavily on the morning of 22 June 1941, the day of the outbreak of war between the Soviet Union and Germany.

After Ukraine gained its independence, the Ustyluh-Zosin international border crossing with Poland was opened in the city.