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Lithuania will begin to eliminate helium balloons carrying contraband tobacco across the border, its prime minister has warned.

This decision follows after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures multiple times over the past week, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

International border access continues restricted in response to the helium weather balloons.

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ maximum response protocols during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Government Response

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "every required action" to shoot down balloons.

Concerning border measures, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues across the international border, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, but no other movement will be allowed.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons while potentially considering invocation of the alliance's consultation mechanism - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns during holiday periods from balloon incidents from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, per transportation authority data.

In recent weeks, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, according to emergency management officials.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: as of 6 October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, an NCMC spokesman said, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

International Perspective

Other European airports - covering northern and central European sites - experienced similar aerial disruptions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, over past months.