NATO Sentry aircraft have intensified patrols along the borders of Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine in response to overnight airstrikes on Kyiv.

On the night of October 8, a NATO E-3B Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft, departing from Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany, began conducting circular maneuvers near the trilateral contact zone between Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine. This unusual proximity of the aircraft, which is equipped with powerful radars capable of detecting targets up to 400 kilometers away, coincided with further Russian drone strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

According to open sources, the Sentry, identified by the call sign NATO05 and registration number LX-N90443, had previously refueled mid-air from a U.S. KC-135R Stratotanker over western Poland, extending its mission amid rising tensions in the region.

Experts suggest that these flights are part of Operation Eastern Sentry, launched by NATO in September after incidents involving drones intruding into Polish airspace. While regular Sentry missions over Poland are not uncommon, their approach to the Ukrainian border raises questions about the potential for real-time monitoring of Russian troop movements and aerial threats.

“While it’s not unusual for NATO to conduct missions over Poland, it is rare to see flights so close to the Ukrainian border,” observers emphasize, referencing flight tracking data.