In brief
The Lithuanian government has declared a nationwide emergency situation, prompted by repeated incursions of balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene labeled the incursions a 'hybrid attack', heightening tensions between the two nations. This year, nearly 600 balloons and 200 drones linked to smuggling have entered Lithuania's airspace, leading to airport closures in the capital, Vilnius. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko denies responsibility, and the situation raises concerns over aviation security and international law.
The Lithuanian government has declared a 'nationwide emergency situation' in response to a series of incursions from neighbouring Belarus by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene condemned the balloon incursions as a 'hybrid attack' by Belarus that posed a real risk to national security and civil aviation.
This year alone, officials say about 600 balloons linked to smuggling and almost 200 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace, leading to the repeated closure of Vilnius airport.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko denies being behind the incursions, alleging the issue has been 'politicised' by Lithuania, which is a member of both the EU and NATO.
Lithuania's decision to impose an 'emergency situation' is a step below a state of emergency, which was last imposed in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It grants the armed forces additional powers to respond faster and more effectively.
Belarus's long-time leader is a close ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin and Lithuania's President, Gitanas Nauseda, has said there is a lot of evidence that the balloon threat is a 'deliberate action aimed at destabilising the situation in Lithuania'.
A number of European countries have faced a range of threats from Russia, which the EU has condemned as a 'hybrid campaign' that includes sabotage, disruption to critical infrastructure and most recently drone flights near sensitive sites.
Last month, the head of NATO's military committee, Adml Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, said the Western military alliance was considering a more 'aggressive' or 'pro-active' stance to Russia's hybrid warfare.
Lithuania has accused Belarus of this kind of provocation before. Four years ago, thousands of irregular migrants mostly from the Middle East crossed the Belarusian border.
Responding to the latest threat, Lithuania closed two border checkpoints with Belarus for three weeks from the end of October. Belarus then barred Lithuanian trucks from driving on its roads and hundreds of Lithuanian vehicles are still understood to be stranded there.
Authorities said they had intercepted 11 smuggling balloons and seized almost 40,000 packets of cigarettes.
On one night last week, the airport had to suspend operations three times and Finnish airline Finnair has cancelled all evening flights to Vilnius until the end of February because of the balloons.
