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The Baltic nation plans to eliminate balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, government officials confirmed.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, including at the weekend, with the government also closing frontier checkpoints during these events.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

According to official declarations, "we are ready to take maximum response protocols during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Announcing the actions at a press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

About the border closure, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel between the two countries, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, however general movement continues suspended.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition here, and we will take all the strictest measures to prevent similar incidents," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

International Consultation

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners over the threat posed from the balloons while potentially considering invocation of Nato's Article 4 - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Flight Cancellations

Lithuanian airports were closed three times at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, per transportation authority data.

During the current month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, per national security agency reports.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: 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.

International Perspective

Other European airports - covering northern and central European sites - have also been affected by air incursions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, over past months.