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Lithuania will begin to intercept and destroy balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after foreign objects crossing the border necessitated airport closures repeatedly in recent days, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended cross-border movement during each incident.

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

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

National Security Actions

Announcing the actions at a press conference, Ruginiene said the army was taking "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

About the border closure, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access across the international border, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to Belarus and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to halt these operations," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from the neighboring government.

International Consultation

Authorities will discuss with international allies about the security challenges presented and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a protocol allowing member state consultation about national security issues, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Airport Disruptions

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns at the weekend due to weather balloons originating from neighboring territory, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, based on regional media reports.

Earlier this month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: through early October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, according to official statements, while 966 were recorded last year.

European Context

Additional aviation facilities - such as Scandinavian and German locations - experienced similar aerial disruptions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent weeks.