🔗 Share this article

Authorities have decided to eliminate balloons used to smuggle illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

This action responds after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, including at the weekend, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures when our airspace is violated."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, Ruginiene said the army was taking "complete operational protocols" to eliminate aerial threats.

Concerning border measures, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel between the two countries, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to the neighboring nation and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Minsk officials.

International Consultation

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners over the threat posed from the balloons with possible discussions about implementing the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country regarding security matters, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

National air facilities experienced triple closures over the weekend because of aerial devices originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, based on regional media reports.

During the current month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.

The phenomenon is not new: by autumn measurements, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from neighboring territory during current year, per government spokesperson comments, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

European Context

International air travel hubs - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, during current period.