🔗 Share this article

Authorities have decided to shoot down balloons used to smuggle cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, the country's leader announced.

This decision follows after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely following repeated balloon incursions.

According to official declarations, "our nation stands prepared to implement maximum response protocols during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "all necessary measures" to shoot down balloons.

Regarding frontier restrictions, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues for cross-border diplomatic missions, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, however general movement continues suspended.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to the neighboring nation stating that asymmetric operations face opposition within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," government officials declared.

Official communications saw no quick answer from Belarus.

Diplomatic Measures

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners about the security challenges presented with possible discussions about implementing the alliance's consultation mechanism - a protocol allowing member state consultation regarding security matters, particularly involving territorial protection - the Prime Minister concluded.

Flight Cancellations

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

The phenomenon is not new: through early October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, while 966 were recorded last year.

European Context

Other European airports - including in Copenhagen and Munich - experienced similar aerial disruptions, with unauthorized drone observations, during current period.