As Russia opens a new front on Ukraine’s northeastern border, the war has entered an important phase.

Readers have been sending in their questions to our senior correspondents and military experts for their take on the changing battlefield environment.

Today, Tali-IhanTala asks: 

When will F-16s arrive? I truly believe they will mark a turning point in the War.

Military analyst Sean Bell had this to say:

Although there is growing expectation that the initial tranche of F-16 fighter jets being donated to Ukraine could arrive as soon as early July, it is not clear whether the other ingredients of this powerful air power capability will be in place by that time.

Providing a credible and effective Ukrainian combat air capability requires suitably trained and experienced pilots, ground crew, weapons, defensive aids and radar. All these components need to be in place before the Ukrainian Air Force will be ready to go into battle with the Russian military.  

Once the F-16s are place, the challenge facing Ukraine will be when and where to use these valuable resources – and how to avoid them being destroyed before they can contribute to the Ukrainian defensive effort.

They will provide Ukraine with an invaluable – albeit scarce – resource. The F-16s could be used to support the frontline, but they will be very vulnerable in that dynamic and hostile air environment. 

They could also be used to conduct strikes against key military targets inside Russian territory, which would certainly force a change in Moscow’s tactics. Or, if Ukraine wanted to threaten Crimea, the F-16s could be used in a coordinated attack in support of a wider campaign.

Regardless, with Russia on the front foot in the Donbas, Ukraine needs all the help it can to reverse Russian momentum on the battlefield.