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

The measure comes after unauthorized aerial incursions forced Vilnius Airport to close multiple times over the past week, with weekend disruptions, while authorities suspended cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures against airspace violations."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

Regarding frontier restrictions, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access between the two countries, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from the neighboring government.

International Consultation

Authorities will discuss with international allies regarding the aerial device concerns while potentially considering invocation of Nato's Article 4 - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Lithuanian airports were closed three times at the weekend due to weather balloons from Belarus, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, according to emergency management officials.

These incidents continue previous patterns: as of 6 October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus this year, according to official statements, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - faced comparable aviation security challenges, including drone sightings, in recent weeks.