Secret headquarters in Germany’s defense ministry procures weapons for Ukraine bypassing standard rules

A closed working group called Sonderstab Ukraine (“Special Ukraine Staff”) operates within Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence, coordinating weapons deliveries to Ukraine’s defence forces through an accelerated procedure that bypasses established regulations.

This was reported by the Financial Times.

The group has fewer than 20 members. Their office is located in a secured section of the ministry building. Due to its high level of secrecy, the group is unofficially referred to within the ministry as a “partisan unit.”

Originally, Sonderstab Ukraine handled different tasks: its staff monitored the situation around the war in Ukraine and prepared briefings for German leadership. Over time, the group was granted authority to procure weapons directly from German manufacturers for subsequent transfer to the Ukrainian side. Individual deliveries can be approved within two weeks.

On average, Sonderstab Ukraine facilitates deliveries to Kyiv worth EUR 11.5 billion per year. The list of required weapons is drawn up by the Ukrainian side.

Earlier, in August, media reported that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had accidentally disclosed classified information about the transfer of German RCH-155 self-propelled artillery systems to Kyiv — prior to that, German authorities had not officially confirmed the delivery of such combat systems to Ukraine.

In the spring, it emerged that Germany would finance the procurement of hundreds of missiles for Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, though they will not begin arriving until next year.