Modifying the $PATH on the local system works around this issue:
$ export PATH=$PATH:/sbin:/usr/lib/systemd
$ mkosi --distribution debian \
--release sid \
--package kmod,linux-image-amd64 \
--output disk --debug 2> log2.txt
$ tail -2 log2.txt
‣ /home/manut/test/disk.raw size is 473.7M, consumes 472.7M.
‣ + rm -rf -- /work/home/manut/.cache/mkosi/mkosi-workspace-rvoxbpd0
/work/home/manut/.cache/mkosi/mkosi-workspace-rvoxbpd0/root
It is also required to add sbin to the path on the host, if a ToolsTree is
used.