The Lithuanian government has declared a nationwide emergency situation in response to a series of incursions from neighbouring Belarus by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene condemned the balloon incursions as a hybrid attack by Belarus that posed a real risk to national security and civil aviation.
This year alone, officials report about 600 balloons linked to smuggling and almost 200 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace, leading to the repeated closure of Vilnius airport.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko denies any involvement in the incursions, claiming that Lithuania is politicizing the issue, as it is a member of both the EU and NATO.
Lithuania’s declaration of an emergency situation is one step below a full state of emergency, previously imposed in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which allows the armed forces to respond more swiftly and effectively.
Lukashenko is a close ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nauseda stated there is evidence indicating that the balloon threat is a deliberate action aimed at destabilizing the situation in Lithuania.
The EU has condemned hybrid campaigns from Russia that include various disruptive tactics, and NATO’s military committee has hinted at considering a more proactive stance against such occurrences.
Lithuania had previously faced provocations from Belarus, such as thousands of irregular migrant crossings four years ago. In response to the latest smuggling threats, Lithuania has closed border checkpoints with Belarus, prompting retaliatory actions from Belarus, including barring Lithuanian trucks.
According to Lithuania's interior ministry, balloons can reach heights of 10km (6 miles) and have resulted in the closure of Vilnius airport for more than 60 hours since October, affecting approximately 30,000 passengers.
Lukashenko dismissed accusations against Belarus, asserting that even if balloons did inadvertently enter Lithuanian airspace, they do not pose a significant threat.
Over the past week, numerous flights have been disrupted due to the balloons, influencing even foreign airline operations. Lithuanian authorities intercepted 11 smuggling balloons, confiscating almost 40,000 packets of cigarettes.
