"Partisan Unit" in Berlin: How Germany's Secret Special Staff Buys Weapons for Ukraine in Two Weeks

In one of the most secure wings of the Federal Republic of Germany's Ministry of Defence, a small unit operates that some sources to the Financial Times call a "partisan unit." This is Sonderstab Ukraine — a special staff established in 2022, a few months after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Initially, the structure served a monitoring and briefing function for political leadership, but over time it evolved into a key mechanism for the operational supply of Kyiv with military equipment. For 2026, Berlin has earmarked 11.5 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, and it is this staff that handles the operational search for and procurement of the necessary weapons.

Fewer Than 20 People Against 13,000 Bureaucrats

The main feature of Sonderstab Ukraine is its compactness. The unit employs fewer than 20 people, which makes it atypical for the German state system. For comparison: the agency responsible for weapons procurement for the Bundeswehr has around 13,000 staff. It is precisely this difference in scale that determines the speed of work: Sonderstab is able to conclude a weapons supply agreement in roughly two weeks, whereas standard procurement procedures for the German armed forces go through a multi-level bureaucratic system.

The Key to Speed: Ukrainian Contracts and German Money

The unit is led by Brigadier General Joachim Kasche, a former Tornado fighter pilot. He attributes the high operational efficiency to "very short decision-making chains," which make the team "maneuverable and flexible." A defining feature of the mechanism is that contracts for weapons supply are signed by the Ukrainian government, while Germany pays for the purchases. This scheme allows part of the complex procedures used in Bundeswehr procurement to be bypassed, significantly shortening the timelines.

A "Startup" Inside the Ministry of Defence

Sources to the Financial Times familiar with the unit's work describe the atmosphere at Sonderstab Ukraine as reminiscent of a startup. According to them, the staff have deep knowledge of military systems and are able to assess which technologies actually work on the battlefield. The publication notes that the unit's activities are gradually expanding beyond the simple delivery of weapons: the staff has become a platform for interaction between German and Ukrainian military personnel and defence companies, as Berlin seeks to use Ukraine's combat experience to develop its own defence capabilities.

Political Context: From Merz to Trump

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's team is ready to cover the growth in Ukraine's defence spending. According to government representatives, supporting the Ukrainian defence forces serves not only Berlin's obligations to Kyiv but also Germany's own national interests. Meanwhile, in Washington, President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine would receive a licence to produce missiles for the Patriot system; however, this concerns a less modern version of the weapon — PAC-2, which is already protecting the Ukrainian sky. Thus, the German special staff and the American licensing programme form two distinct but complementary vectors of military support for Kyiv.

Contradictory Data

Because Sonderstab Ukraine operates under heightened secrecy, all details of its work are based on statements from anonymous Financial Times sources familiar with the unit's activities. The exact staff size ("fewer than 20 people"), specific contract timelines ("roughly two weeks") and budget parameters (11.5 billion euros for 2026) have not been officially confirmed by Berlin. At the same time, all four verified sources — RBC-UA, 24tv, Gazeta.Ru and ZN.ua — unanimously reproduce the FT's data without significant discrepancies in figures or chronology. The only thing that can be noted is the vagueness of the wording: FT writes that the unit "can conclude agreements in two weeks," which does not mean that every contract is concluded in exactly that time. Nevertheless, the key facts — the existence of the staff, its role, leadership and general principle of operation — are consistently confirmed across all sources.