🔗 Share this article

Authorities have decided to eliminate aerial devices transporting contraband tobacco across the border, its prime minister has warned.

This action responds after foreign objects crossing the border forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "authorities will not hesitate to employ maximum response protocols against airspace violations."

Official Measures

Outlining the strategy to media, officials stated defense units were executing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

Concerning border measures, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel across the international border, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, however general movement continues suspended.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Minsk officials.

Diplomatic Measures

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners over the threat posed from the balloons while potentially considering invocation of Nato's Article 4 - a request for consultation by a Nato member country regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

National air facilities experienced triple closures at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, according to emergency management officials.

The phenomenon is not new: 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

Other European airports - such as Scandinavian and German locations - have also been affected by air incursions, with unauthorized drone observations, in recent weeks.