With the start of the
Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most units of the
Azov Regiment were based in
Mariupol where they soon
would be besieged. Outside of Mariupol, many former veterans of Azov outside the city began forming new units, in particular in
Kyiv,
Sumy and
Kharkiv. These units were initially part of the
Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine (TDF). Veterans of the Azov Regiment formed the "backbone" of these units. The Azov TDF units proved themselves to be particularly effective in combat, and thus they were soon turned into regiments and reassigned as part of the
Special Operations Forces of Ukraine (SSO) of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, where they received special training and equipment, and became collectively known as "
Azov SSO". In addition, at
Dnipro, former Azov veterans established the
98th Territorial Defence Battalion 'Azov-Dnipro' of the TDF. In January 2023, all the former Azov SSO units, in addition to the 98th TDF Battalion, were merged into a single fully operational combat unit within the
Ukrainian Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The formation of this brigade was strategically designed to create a highly mobile, well-equipped, and extensively trained force capable of engaging in both defensive and offensive operations. The colors of the brigade were said to symbolize "the tenacity of the traditions of Ukrainian statehood: from princely times [of
Kievan Rus'], the
Cossack period, the
first liberation struggles [in the early 20th century] to modern times". The brigade's soldiers took part in the
liberation of Kherson and parts of the
Kherson Oblast, as well as in the
battle of Bakhmut. On 12 April 2023, the brigade's official media resources announced the start of recruitment efforts. In May 2023, it was one of the first to report successful offensives in the Bakhmut district against the Russian Ground Forces. On 15 September 2023, after
months of fighting, the brigade liberated
Andriivka, and held onto it despite a Russian counterattack on 17 September. Ukrainian ground forces commander General Syrskyi called Klishchiivka and Andriivka "important elements of the Russian Bakhmut-Horlivka defensive line", and ISW assessed that the capture of these settlements defending a key Russian
ground line of communication will make it difficult for the already weary defending forces to replenish and continue defending. After the fall of Avdiivka on February 17, the brigade took new defensive lines west of Avdiivka around
Lastochkyne. On 17 February, the brigade's press officer, Oleksandr Borodin, claimed that during its relocation to Avdiivka, his unit had killed 1,500 Russians, wounded over 3,500, and destroyed 20 armoured vehicles. He also said that the brigade has "no reports" of large numbers of their soldiers being taken prisoner. On 27 May 2024, the brigade claimed to have killed, wounded or taken prisoner "close to" 600 Russian troops in
Kharkiv Oblast. One Russian soldier captured by the brigade claimed in an interview that he was the only survivor of his 15-man section following an attack. On 19 June, the brigade claimed that their 1st Mechanised Battalion had killed 250 Russians in Kharkiv Oblast, publishing a video that purportedly proved their claims. On 22 August 2024, the brigade claimed to have taken in a counterattack against Russia's
20th Army in Kharkiv Oblast. Despite being outnumbered 2.5 to 1, they claimed to have defeated a battalion, including "platoon and company strong points", killing 300 personnel in three days and diverting Russian forces away from
Makiivka. In November 2024, it was reported that certain units of the brigade's 2nd Assault Battalion were operating in the Kharkiv Oblast. Plans to transform this elite formation to become the
III Army Corps began in March 2025, with Andriy Biletskyi expected to retain his billet of commanding officer upon the conclusion of the reorganization process. In late March 2025, it was reported that units of the brigade, had recaptured the village of
Nadiia in the
Luhansk Oblast. Biletskyi claimed that this resulted in the destruction of two regiments of Russia's
20th Combined Arms Army: the
752nd and
254th Motor Rifle Regiments, as well as the recapture of of territory. The operation to recapture Nadiia was mainly conducted by the brigade's 1st Assault Battalion, though other units were involved, including the brigade's 2nd Mechanized Battalion and its tank battalion. The next month, combat continued near the village of Nadiia; the brigade's 1st Assault Battalion, 1st Mechanized Battalion, and 2nd Mechanized Battalion were reportedly involved. Around the same time, units of the 3rd Brigade recaptured the village of
Nevske, according to deputy commander . In a late March 2025 interview, Biletskyi said that the brigade was defending the town of
Borova in the
Kharkiv Oblast, which he said was a Russian target. The 3rd Assault Brigade was opposed by units of the
1st Guards Tank Army and the 20th Combined Arms Army. In April and May 2025, it was reported that the 3rd Assault Brigade was holding over of the front line on the
Kupiansk and
Lyman fronts, which was reportedly the longest portion of the front held by any Ukrainian brigade across the entire country, and that it had done so for nearly a year. Ukrainian military journalist and brigade deputy commander
Dmytro Kukharchuk both said the brigade was holding a front in June and July 2025, respectively. Butusov said this represented 5% of the entire active front line in Ukraine. On 22 December 2025, the 3rd Assault Brigade said that a Ukrainian
UGV, equipped with a .50 cal machine gun, held off Russian attacks for 45 days while being operated either remotely or using AI. The first time a position was held solely by an UGV without direct human support. ==Controversies==