After repeated airspace disruptions caused by suspected smuggler balloons, Lithuanian government prepares to shut its Belarus border crossings indefinitely.
Lithuania has announced plans to indefinitely close its border crossings with Belarus following a series of airspace disruptions caused by suspected smuggler balloons drifting across the frontier.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said the decision was being prepared after three consecutive evenings of air traffic suspensions at Vilnius Airport — the nation’s busiest hub — due to unidentified objects believed to be carrying contraband. The incidents, which occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 24, 25, 26, 2025, forced temporary airport closures, flight diversions, and widespread travel delays.
The disruptions have reignited tensions between Lithuania and Belarus, whose 680-kilometer border has become a flashpoint in recent years. Lithuanian officials say criminal groups in Belarus frequently use small balloons and drones to smuggle cigarettes and other illicit goods into the European Union. Authorities in Vilnius believe these latest incursions pose not only a security concern but also a potential aviation hazard.
“We cannot allow repeated violations of our airspace to jeopardize civil aviation safety or national security,” Ruginiene told reporters following a meeting of Lithuania’s National Security Commission. “If necessary, we are ready to close the crossings for as long as required.”
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The commission, which includes senior defense, security, and border officials, met in an emergency session on Monday October 27, 2025, to evaluate the situation. While no injuries or accidents were reported, officials said that the scale and frequency of the balloon incursions mark a significant escalation in smuggling activity along the frontier.
Belarus has not commented publicly on the incidents. However, Lithuanian analysts suggest the use of balloons could be part of broader hybrid tactics aimed at testing Lithuania’s response capabilities. Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated sharply since Lithuania backed European Union sanctions against the government of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
The border issue adds to a growing list of regional security concerns for the Baltic states, which have warned that hostile acts—whether cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, or physical provocations—pose increasing threats to NATO’s eastern flank.
Lithuania currently operates several major crossings with Belarus, most of which handle both cargo and passenger traffic. Officials have not provided a timeline for when the closures might take effect but confirmed that all necessary preparations are underway.
Ruginiene emphasized that Lithuania’s actions are aimed at “protecting citizens, aviation safety, and national sovereignty” and that the government “will not hesitate to act decisively” if the incursions continue.
