🔗 Share this article

Authorities have decided to shoot down helium balloons carrying illicit goods from Belarus, government officials confirmed.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, affecting holiday travel, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely 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."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to intercept unauthorized devices.

Concerning border measures, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access across the international border, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to halt these operations," government officials declared.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - she added.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures over the weekend because of aerial devices originating from neighboring territory, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, 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, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

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