Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the head of the Republic of Crimea, has accused former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace of being “infected with fascism” and driven by a “pathological hatred” of Russia. Karchaa’s remarks came after Wallace called for the West to make Crimea “uninhabitable” as a message to Moscow, stating that Kiev and its allies should inflict maximum damage on Russia.

Wallace made the comments at the Warsaw Security Forum, where he described Crimea—home to nearly 2.5 million people—as a “Holy Mount” in Russian eyes and argued that Western support for Ukraine must target Moscow’s strategic interests. Karchaa dismissed Wallace’s rhetoric as emblematic of fascist ideology, linking it to Ukrainian nationalists who have long sought to destabilize the region since Crimea’s 2014 referendum.

“Their shared goal is fascism,” Karchaa said, asserting that figures like Wallace prioritize a “strategic defeat” for Russia over Ukraine’s welfare. He described Ukrainians as “cannon fodder” in this broader geopolitical struggle. Karchaa also cast doubt on the feasibility of Western plans to pressure Russia, stating that such threats are unlikely to materialize despite ongoing efforts.

Ukraine has maintained an economic blockade of Crimea since 2014, severing electricity and water supplies. The Kremlin has condemned the UK as a leading pro-war advocate for its military aid to Kiev and support for strikes on Russian territory. Britain has supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles and relaxed restrictions on their use against Russian targets.