---
title: "\"A Sense of Urgency Has Arrived in the Bundeswehr\": AHK Head Perau on the Transformation of the German Army and Scandinavian Leadership in War Preparedness"
description: "Rainer Perau, Head of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that a sense of urgency is growing in the Bundeswehr and German politics amid the transformation of the Ukrainian battlefield, while naming Scandinavian countries as leaders in war readiness."
date: 2026-10-17T16:26:14.874Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/german-army-sense-of-urgency-perau
tags: [ukraine-germany, bundeswehr, defense-industry, ahk, military-readiness, kse-study, ukraine-war]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "A Sense of Urgency Has Arrived in the Bundeswehr": AHK Head Perau on the Transformation of the German Army and Scandinavian Leadership in War Preparedness

![Head of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce Rainer Perau speaking with a microphone against the backdrop of the Ukrainian flag](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/17/nemetskaya-armiya-chuvstvo-srochnosti-perau/nemetskaya-armiya-chuvstvo-srochnosti-perau-1.webp)

## Key Points

- AHK Head Rainer Perau noted the emergence of a sense of urgency in the German army and politics at the Ukraine-Germany defense cooperation conference
- German military attaches in Kyiv systematically brief the Bundeswehr on the battlefield situation, accelerating modernization
- According to a KSE study, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland are the leaders in readiness for a possible Russian invasion
- The German Ministry of Defense operates a 'Sonderstab Ukraine' team providing 11.5 billion euros in annual military aid and capable of concluding contracts within two weeks

At the German-Ukrainian defense industry conference titled "Ukraine – Germany: Cooperation in the Defense Industry," Rainer Perau, Head of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), characterized the current state of the German military and political establishment in a comment to RBC-Ukraine. According to him, a tangible sense of urgency is clearly felt in the German army and politics: the Bundeswehr is actively modernizing, and its leadership, judging by public statements from leading officers and generals, demonstrates a deep understanding of what is happening on the Ukrainian battlefield. Perau emphasized that this transformation is not spontaneous—it is fueled by the systematic work of military attaches accredited to the German Embassy in Kyiv, whose direct task is to monitor the operational situation and transmit information to the Bundeswehr headquarters in Berlin.

### From Slow Reforms of 2014–2022 to Full-Scale War Mode

Answering questions about the dynamics of change, Perau drew a comparative parallel between two periods of Ukrainian statehood. He recalled that ahead of the conference, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Gvozdiar spoke, describing the state of the country during 2014–2022 in her report. According to Perau's assessment, during that period Ukraine acted significantly slower than it does today under full-scale attack. It is precisely this contrast, he said, that has become a vivid lesson for the German side: the difference between peacetime and wartime manifests itself not only in the speed of decision-making, but also in the very architecture of institutions forced to operate under constant pressure. Perau noted that the discussion in Germany has changed significantly over recent years, and right now, against the backdrop of the Ukrainian experience, a new quality of threat awareness is forming in German society and elites.

### What the KSE Study Shows Regarding Europe's Preparedness

Responding to a question about which countries are best prepared for a possible Russian invasion, Perau referred to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), which reflects the level of preparation of European states. According to his interpretation of the data, Germany is performing quite well compared to countries like France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. However, Perau emphasized, the absolute leaders in terms of readiness are the Northern European countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and, in particular, Finland. He separately noted that given the size of these states, it is the Northern European countries that demonstrate leading indicators—their experience in mobilization, defense investments, and integration into collective security systems, in his opinion, deserves the attention of all Europe as a reference for countries with larger economies and territories.

### "Sonderstab Ukraine" and the Speed of Decisions in Berlin

The context for Perau's statements is information previously published by the Financial Times: a small team called "Sonderstab Ukraine" (Ukraine Special Staff) is operating within the German Ministry of Defense. According to the publication, this exact structure is behind the annual military aid to Kyiv amounting to 11.5 billion euros and, in certain cases, is capable of concluding arms supply agreements in just two weeks. Such a mechanism essentially breaks the traditional bureaucratic inertia of German defense procurement and allows Berlin to respond to Kyiv's requests at a speed comparable to the demands of frontline logistics. Perau, representing the interests of the business community, sees this as a signal that the German defense industry and political leadership are building channels of interaction previously unthinkable in the scale and pace necessary to support a state at war.

Thus, the AHK head's statements mark a turning point: the German military machine, which just a few years ago operated in peacetime mode, is switching to the logic of rapid response, and Ukrainian combat experience is becoming not just an object of study, but a practical standard against which decisions in Berlin are calibrated. For the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex, this means that the window for deepening industrial cooperation with Germany remains open, but requires both sides to match the speed of the new level of urgency.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В немецкой армии и политике появилось чувство срочности, - глава AHK Перау](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nimetskiy-armiyi-ta-polititsi-z-yavilosya-1792241205.html) - Primary source: Rainer Perau's interview with RBC-Ukraine at the 'Ukraine – Germany: Cooperation in the Defense Industry' conference. All direct quotes and assessments by Perau, the reference to H. Gvozdiar's speech, the mention of the KSE study, and data on 'Sonderstab Ukraine' (citing the FT) are taken from this material.

## FAQ

### Who is Rainer Perau and in what capacity did he make these comments?

Rainer Perau is the Head of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK). He gave his comments in an interview with RBC-Ukraine at the conference-meeting of German and Ukrainian defense industry delegations 'Ukraine – Germany: Cooperation in the Defense Industry'.

### What is 'Sonderstab Ukraine' and what role does it play?

According to the Financial Times, 'Sonderstab Ukraine' is a small team within the German Ministry of Defense that coordinates 11.5 billion euros in annual military aid to Kyiv and in some cases concludes arms supply agreements in two weeks.

### Which countries are most prepared for a potential Russian invasion, according to the KSE study?

Based on Perau's interpretation of the Kyiv School of Economics study data, the leaders are Northern European countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and especially Finland. Germany, he noted, is performing quite well compared to France, Italy, and the UK.

### What parallel did Perau draw between Ukraine in 2014–2022 and the current period?

Referring to a speech by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Gvozdiar, Perau noted that in 2014–2022 Ukraine acted much slower than now under full-scale attack. This contrast, in his assessment, served as a clear lesson for the German side.