The brigade was formed on 30 October 2015 in Koloymia, part of Operation Command West. It included the 24th Separate Assault Battalion, the former Aidar Battalion. The brigade is commanded by Colonel and Hero of Ukraine Vasyl Zubanych, a former battalion commander in the 128th Mechanized Brigade. The first group of recruits were 1,000 volunteers on a contract basis. There initially was a 25% pay increase offered to recruits, as recognition of their status as mountain troops. In January 2016, it was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence that the brigade was ready to begin combat training. As of January 2016 the brigade was stationed at Bila Tserkva pending completion of new barracks in Kolomyia. In February 2016, it was decided by the Ukrainian Ground Forces to form a new Bukovina