Russia Adds Former UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace to Wanted List

Russia has officially placed former British Defence Minister Ben Wallace on its wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal investigation, according to state media reports citing the Russian Interior Ministry's database. The announcement was made on May 13, 2026. Wallace, who served as the UK's defence secretary from before the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine until August 2023, has remained a vocal advocate for increased military support for Kyiv and a critic of Russian aggression. The specific charges remain unclear, but the move follows earlier calls by a regional Russian lawmaker in October 2025 to include Wallace on the international wanted list. This demand stemmed from comments Wallace made at the Warsaw Security Forum in September 2025, where he suggested helping Ukraine strike the bridge linking southern Russia to annexed Crimea to make the peninsula unviable for Russian control. While the exact number of foreign officials on Russia's wanted list is unknown, independent reports indicate it includes dozens of European politicians. Wallace did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this latest development.