🔗 Share this article

Authorities have decided to intercept and destroy balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after foreign objects crossing the border forced Vilnius Airport to close multiple times over the past week, including at the weekend, accompanied by temporary closures of frontier checkpoints during these events.

International border access continues restricted following repeated balloon incursions.

The government leader stated, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures when our airspace is violated."

National Security Actions

Outlining the strategy to media, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to shoot down balloons.

Regarding frontier restrictions, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, however general movement continues suspended.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted here, and we will take all the strictest measures to prevent similar incidents," she said.

There has been no immediate response from the neighboring government.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies about the security challenges presented while potentially considering invocation of the NATO consultation clause - a request for consultation by a Nato member country about national security issues, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Flight Cancellations

Lithuanian airports were closed three times over the weekend because of aerial devices crossing the international border, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, per transportation authority data.

During the current month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, per national security agency reports.

These incidents continue previous patterns: by autumn measurements, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from Belarus this year, according to official statements, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

European Context

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, over past months.