Russia has placed former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on its wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal case, according to a Russian Interior Ministry database cited by state media.The database entry reportedly states that Wallace is “wanted on criminal charges”, although authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact charges against him.Russian state news agency TASS, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, reported that the case may be linked to terrorism-related charges.Wallace served as Britain’s Defense Secretary between 2019 and 2023, including during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.After stepping down from the government, he continued to publicly support increased military aid to Ukraine and frequently criticized the Kremlin’s actions during the war.Moscow’s move comes months after Wallace made comments about Crimea during the Warsaw Security Forum.Speaking at the event in September last year, Wallace argued that Ukraine should be supported with long-range military capabilities to target Russian-controlled Crimea.“To make Crimea unviable, we need to help Ukraine acquire long-range capabilities,” Wallace said at the forum.“We need to eliminate all life from Crimea,” he said.He also called for an attack on the bridge linking Russia to Crimea, saying: “We need to destroy the damned 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 place him on the wanted list, Wallace dismissed the move as politically motivated.“At a time when the Kremlin is failing at home and abroad, I am not surprised by this latest Russian stunt,” Wallace said in an email to Reuters.“The whole world knows that Russia illegally invaded Ukraine four years ago,” he said, accusing the Kremlin of sacrificing Russian lives “for the sake of Putin’s ego.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously criticized Wallace’s comments on Crimea, reportedly calling them “silly.”