Germany's secret ‘Sonderstab Ukraine’ cuts weapons deal time to two weeks

A dedicated “Sonderstab Ukraine” cell within Germany’s Defense Ministry, staffed by fewer than 20 people and headed by Brigadier General Joachim Kaschke, can arrange weapons deliveries to Kyiv in roughly two weeks, dramatically outpacing the lengthy domestic procurement process. The unit was established in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion and quickly earned a reputation for agility by having Ukraine, not Germany, sign contracts, thereby sidestepping German procurement regulations.

Over the past year it has evolved into a focal point where German and Ukrainian defence ministries and industry partners exchange expertise and technology, recently facilitating the transfer of German-stockpiled anti-aircraft missiles for use with American Patriot air-defence systems. A source described the team’s “start-up vibe” and deep knowledge of effective versus overpriced systems. Public sentiment on German arms support is split, with an ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll indicating 39% of western Germans consider deliveries excessive compared with 54% in the east.