Ukraine destroys key bridges to 'strangle' occupied Crimea & shock resignation by UK Defence Secretary John Healey

Day 1,567.

As Ukraine intensifies its campaign against Crimea by striking key bridges and transport links in an effort to isolate the peninsula, we examine potentially seismic political developments in London. Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey – one of Kyiv’s strongest allies and a leading advocate for military rearmament – has dramatically resigned in protest over defence spending and the country’s preparedness for a future conflict, triggering a crisis that could topple the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Francis and Dom comb through Healey’s damning resignation letter and consider how Kyiv will react to the news. Later, Francis explores a major new report on the risks of a sudden ceasefire in Ukraine with some of the world’s leading experts.

Thumbnail image shows Crimean bridge ablaze in 2022.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to:

Orysia Lutsevych OBE (head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House)

Simon Smith (chair of the steering committee, Ukraine Forum, Chatham House, and British ambassador 2012 to 2015)

Keir Giles (senior consulting fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, and author Who Will Defend Europe?)

John Lough (associate fellow, Chatham House, and head of foreign policy, New Eurasian Strategies Centre)

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: James England

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  

CONTENT REFERENCED:

John Healey resigns over Starmer’s defence spending plan (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/11/john-healey-resigns-as-defence-secretary-labour-starmer/ 

Russia is creating launch sites for combat drones near the borders of Belarus. We show you where (Radio Liberty, in Belarusian):

https://www.svaboda.org/a/33777451.html 

How a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire could imperil Ukrainian and European security (Chatham House):

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/how-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-could-imperil-ukrainian-and-european-security

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Putin arms up summer palace as Ukraine deep strikes tear through Russian defences
• Is the election of a pro-Europe party in Armenia actually a win for Putin?

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