Balloons from Belarus Disrupt Lithuanian Airports for Two Nights

Flights at Lithuania’s main airports faced significant disruptions over the weekend due to suspected balloon sightings connected to cigarette smuggling from Belarus. This marked the second consecutive night of disturbances, raising security concerns among authorities.

Vilnius Airport suspended air traffic at 21:35 on Saturday, with operations resuming at 03:30 on Sunday. This interruption resulted in the cancellation of four flights and the diversion of seven others. A similar incident occurred on Friday night, affecting both Vilnius and Kaunas airports, leading to a total of ten cancellations and four diversions. These disruptions followed earlier incidents on Wednesday morning and several occasions in recent weeks.

In response to the balloon incidents, Lithuania’s border crossings with Belarus at Medininkai and Šalčininkai were temporarily closed, further complicating cross-border travel before they were reopened. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has indicated that Lithuania might need to consider prolonged border closures with Belarus if the situation escalates. She has also proposed tougher penalties for those involved in smuggling activities.

Ruginienė has scheduled a meeting of Lithuania’s National Security Commission for Monday to discuss potential measures. The government has issued stern warnings to Belarus, stating that actions disrupting strategic facilities, such as airports, will provoke a strong response.

The head of Lithuania’s border guard recently informed public broadcaster LRT that since the emergence of these smuggling balloons in 2023, there has been no reported instance of their use for anything other than transporting illegal cigarettes. This highlights the growing concern over the security implications of such activities.

Lithuania, a member of both the European Union and NATO, is situated on the eastern flank of the Western alliance, bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus. As the government assesses its options, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of its airspace and borders.