Lithuania's government has announced decisive actions to counter helium balloons smuggling cigarettes from Belarus, which have repeatedly disrupted the country's air traffic.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene warned that the military will shoot down any such balloons entering Lithuanian airspace.
This response follows multiple closures of Vilnius Airport last week, with border crossings to Belarus also set to remain shut indefinitely.
The incidents, described as hybrid attacks, have affected thousands of passengers and heightened tensions with the neighboring country allied to Russia.
In a press conference on Monday, Ruginiene emphasized the severity of the situation, stating "we are ready to take even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."
The army is implementing all necessary measures to neutralize the balloons, which are used by smugglers to transport contraband into the European Union.
Border checkpoints will be closed to all movement except for diplomats and EU citizens or Lithuanians exiting Belarus.
This indefinite closure aims to signal intolerance for such provocations, with Ruginiene adding:
In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks.
The cabinet plans to meet on Wednesday to consider extending the border restrictions.
Lithuania also intends to consult NATO allies regarding the threat and may invoke Article 4, allowing members to request discussions on security concerns.
There has been no immediate response from Belarus to these developments.
The balloons have caused significant disruptions to European aviation.
Vilnius Airport closed three times over the weekend, impacting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, according to Baltic News Service.
Earlier this month, 25 balloons led to 30 cancellations affecting 6,000 travelers.
As of October 6, 544 such incursions were recorded this year, compared to 966 last year, per the National Crisis Management Centre.
Similar air incursions, including drone sightings, have affected airports in Copenhagen, Munich, and other Baltic sites in recent weeks.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys described these as "calculated provocations designed to destabilize, distract (and) test NATO’s resolve."
On Thursday, two Russian military aircraft briefly entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting a protest and NATO response, though Russia denied the event.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, in exile in Lithuania, called the balloon incidents "yet another sign that the regime is using cigarette smuggling as a tool of hybrid aggression against Europe."