FT: Germany’s secret “guerrilla unit” quietly arms Ukraine

A small, secretive German military unit has been operating since the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion to procure weapons for Ukraine, using streamlined procedures that can allow deliveries to be arranged within weeks, the Financial Times reports.

Known as Sonderstab Ukraine, the unit has fewer than 20 military personnel. It was established a few months after the invasion, initially serving as a situation centre responsible for monitoring the war and keeping Germany’s political leadership informed. In July 2022, it was reorganised as Sonderstab Ukraine, with its primary task becoming the procurement of weapons for Ukraine.

According to journalists interviewed for the report, Kyiv provides Germany with lists of weapons it needs, after which personnel from Sonderstab Ukraine identify suitable systems and arrange their purchase. The German government covers the costs.

The unit also goes beyond simply responding to Ukrainian requests. Its military personnel assess the performance of weapons supplied to Ukraine directly on the battlefield, allowing future procurement decisions to be adjusted according to their effectiveness.

Sonderstab Ukraine is led by Brigadier General Joachim Kashke, who said its short decision-making chain enables it to respond rapidly to Ukraine’s needs.

Some Financial Times sources have described the unit as a “guerrilla unit,” reflecting how sharply its operating methods differ from Germany’s traditional military bureaucracy. The main distinction is the speed with which decisions can be made and the limited number of bureaucratic procedures involved.

During the unit’s early days, personnel effectively worked around the clock. Christian Freuding, its former head, recalled that staff worked in shifts because they simply could not complete their workload during a regular working day.

Germany does not disclose the full list of weapons procured through Sonderstab Ukraine. Much of the unit’s activity remains classified because of the nature of its work, although its structure enables it to react quickly to Ukrainian requests and adapt procurement to changing conditions on the battlefield.

The report comes as Germany has urged Ukraine to increase purchases from German defence companies. Berlin believes its defence industry should receive the lion’s share of orders under the country’s large-scale financial and military support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, US weapons deliveries to Ukraine under the PURL mechanism continue uninterrupted, including critical equipment and air defence systems.

US President Donald Trump recently shared on his Truth Social account a Washington Post article proposing that Ukraine be allowed to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. The article argued that such a move could both strengthen Ukraine and reduce pressure on US and European arms manufacturers.

US weapons deliveries under PURL are continuing despite Trump’s statements about a temporary suspension of ammunition exports. NATO has confirmed that, under the programme, allies and partners fund 75% of Ukraine’s Patriot missiles and 90% of its air defence ammunition.

By Tamilla Hasanova