🔗 Share this article

The Baltic nation plans to shoot down 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, affecting holiday travel, with the government also closing Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely following repeated balloon incursions.

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."

Government Response

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to intercept unauthorized devices.

Concerning border measures, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, but no other movement will be allowed.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to foreign authorities and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Minsk officials.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing the alliance's consultation mechanism - a protocol allowing member state consultation about national security issues, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns at the weekend due to weather balloons from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, based on regional media reports.

Earlier this month, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

These incidents continue previous patterns: as of 6 October, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

Other European airports - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, including drone sightings, during current period.