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Lithuania will begin to shoot down balloons used to smuggle illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

This decision follows after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of cross-border movement during each incident.

International border access continues restricted following repeated balloon incursions.

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, Ruginiene said the army was taking "every required action" to shoot down balloons.

About the border closure, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues between the two countries, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, however general movement continues suspended.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to halt these operations," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies about the security challenges presented while potentially considering invocation of Nato's Article 4 - a provision enabling alliance discussion on any issue of concern, specifically concerning defense matters - she added.

Airport Disruptions

Lithuanian airports were closed three times over the weekend because of aerial devices originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, according to emergency management officials.

The phenomenon is not new: as of 6 October, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders across the frontier in recent months, according to official statements, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

European Context

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - faced comparable aviation security challenges, including drone sightings, in recent weeks.