Russia has placed former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on its most wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal case, according to a Russian Interior Ministry database cited by state media.The database entry reportedly indicates that Wallace is “wanted on a felony charge,” though authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact allegations against him.Russian news agency TASS, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, reported that the case may be linked to terrorism-related charges.Wallace served as UK Defense Secretary between 2019 and 2023, including during the early stages of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.After his departure from government, he continued to publicly support increased military aid to Ukraine and repeatedly criticized the Kremlin’s actions during the war.Moscow’s move comes months after Wallace’s statements regarding Crimea during the Warsaw Security Forum.Speaking at the event in September last year, Wallace said Ukraine must be supported with long-range military capabilities to target Russia-controlled Crimea.
“We have to help Ukraine obtain the long-term capabilities to make Crimea unviable,” Wallace said at the forum.He added: “We need to strangle life in Crimea.”He also called for striking the bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, saying: “We need to destroy the cursed bridge.”Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that was widely condemned by Western governments and not recognized internationally.Commenting on Moscow’s decision to put him on the wanted list, Wallace rejected the move and described it as politically motivated.“I am not surprised by this latest Russian ploy at a time when the Kremlin is failing at home and abroad,” Wallace said in an email to Reuters.He added, “The whole world knows that Russia illegally invaded Ukraine four years ago,” accusing the Kremlin of sacrificing Russian lives “for the sake of Putin’s ego.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously criticized Wallace’s comments regarding Crimea, describing them as “stupid.”