🔗 Share this article

Lithuania will begin to intercept and destroy balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, government officials confirmed.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of frontier checkpoints during these events.

International border access continues restricted following repeated balloon incursions.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."

National Security Actions

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to eliminate aerial threats.

Concerning border measures, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access 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 foreign authorities and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to prevent similar incidents," government officials declared.

Official communications saw no quick answer from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a protocol allowing member state consultation on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns 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, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: through early October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

International Perspective

International air travel hubs - including in Copenhagen and Munich - faced comparable aviation security challenges, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, over past months.