The 81st Airmobile Brigade was established in fall 2014 from elements of the 25th Airborne Brigade.
The brigade includes the 90th and 122nd Separate Airborne Battalions.
In May 2015, the volunteer OUN Battalion became part of the brigade.
The brigade fought in the Battle of Donetsk Airport.
On 9 June 2015, brigade Lieutenant Ivan Zubkov was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine posthumously,
for calling in artillery fire on himself during the battle at Donetsk Airport.
The brigade's 90th Battalion was named for Zubkov on 30 December of that year.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian MOD reported that the brigade was attacked by Russian missile troops on the night of the 25 April 2022.
By September 10, the brigade was involved in the Battles of Lyman as part of the larger Eastern Counteroffensive.
On September 24, Russian military bloggers reported that the brigade liberated half of Novoselivka, just 10 km north of Lyman.
Four days later on the 28th, the town was fully recaptured alongside members of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Following the town's capture, the brigade turned south and east towards Lyman.
On October 1, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the withdrawal from Lyman.
This embroidered patch has Velcro backing.
