Lithuania to Declare Emergency Over Smuggler Balloons From Belarus

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced that the government will declare a national emergency situation in response to a surge of smuggler balloons launched from Belarus.

Ruginiene said preparations are underway to establish the legal framework, describing the move as “the best course of action at this time.” The emergency status will allow national and local authorities to allocate additional resources to counter the balloon incursions. She added that a formal state of emergency could follow if conditions worsen.

Disruption to Civil Aviation

Lithuania’s two largest airports, in Vilnius and Kaunas, have repeatedly been forced to suspend operations due to balloons drifting into flight paths. Officials claim the balloons, which can reach altitudes of up to 10 kilometers, are deliberately launched to disrupt civil aviation.

Smuggling and Hybrid Warfare

The balloons, often carrying cigarettes, have long been used by smugglers. However, only in recent months have they caused airport closures. Lithuanian authorities accuse Belarus, a close ally of Russia, of orchestrating hybrid warfare through these incursions.

Escalating Tensions

In October, Lithuania closed two border crossings with Belarus after balloon activity intensified. Belarus retaliated by blocking Lithuanian trucks from its roads and imposing fees before allowing them to leave the country. Thousands of Lithuanian lorries remain stranded, with Minsk demanding consultations.

Vilnius has rejected Belarus’s demands and instead called for tougher sanctions against its neighbor.