the brigade was involved in the army's attempt to stop separatism during the 2014 pro-russian conflict in ukraine. it suffered 18 deaths after being ambushed near volnovakha on 22 may 2014. in late july 2014, 40 men from the brigade crossed into russian territory. by the first week of august, they returned to ukraine of their own free will. some of them were charged with desertion. during august 2014, the brigade made three unsuccessful attempts to retake ilovaisk. on 25 august, brigade soldier andrei krupa was captured by russian troops and released a month later.