NATO member Lithuania took action on Sunday by closing Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings after unidentified objects, believed to be helium balloons, intruded into its airspace. This marks the fourth incident of its kind within the week, according to the National Crisis Management Centre.
The Lithuanian authorities have linked these balloon activities to smugglers who use them to transport illegal cigarettes. Additionally, they have pointed fingers at Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a strong ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, for failing to curb this illicit practice.
Vilnius Airport operations were halted until 2340 GMT, while the closure of the Belarus border will remain in effect until Lithuania’s National Security Commission convenes on Monday for further discussions.
This closure of Vilnius Airport has occurred multiple times this week, including on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as on October 5, all due to the intrusion of balloons into the capital’s airspace, as confirmed by authorities.