Lithuania closes border crossings with Belarus and vows to shoot down smuggling balloons
Photo. DZYNE Technologies
Lithuania has closed its border crossings with Belarus indefinitely and pledged to neutralise smuggling balloons violating its airspace following a recent surge in incursions.
Between October 21 and 26, Lithuanian airports, mainly Vilnius and Kaunas, suspended their operations on four separate occasions after detecting balloons used for cigarette smuggling. The most serious incident occurred overnight on October 25–26, when as estimated 25 hot-air balloons triggered a full airspace shutdown, disrupting roughly 30 flights and affecting around 6,000 passengers. Airport operations resumed early Sunday morning. The October 25-26 incursions marked the third night in a row of airspace violations in Lithuania and the fourth such event within a span of the last week.
Earlier last week, similar incidents caused the temporary closure of the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossings with Belarus. However, following the October 25-26 violation, the National Crisis Management Center of Lithuania (NKCV) announced that both crossings would remain closed „for an indefinite period.” Only diplomatic missions, EU citizens returning from Belarus, and essential cargo transport are authorised to pass. The other two official crossing points, Lavoriškės and Raigardas, had already been closed in August 2023, due to Lithuania’s perceived security threats linked to Belarus and the presence of Russia’s Wagner Group.
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President Gitanas Nausėda described the repeated violations as a „hybrid attack on Lithuania” and called on the government for appropriate response measures. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė stated that Lithuania would „shoot down any smuggling balloons” approaching its airspace and accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of failing to prevent the airspace incursions. Ruginienė also announced that her government may consult NATO allies under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. National Security Advisor Kęstutis Budrys added that Lithuania reserves the right to close transit in the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave to protect its security, if necessary.
The use of balloons for smuggling cigarettes has been a long-standing issue, despite the recent media attention. This year alone, the Lithuanian authorities have intercepted more than 500 balloons launched from Belarus and 966 events of this type were recorded in 2024, according to the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT).
Author: Karolina Kisiel
