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Authorities have decided to eliminate aerial devices transporting cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, the country's leader announced.

This decision follows after unauthorized aerial incursions forced Vilnius Airport to close multiple times over the past week, including at the weekend, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

International border access continues restricted in response to the helium weather balloons.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Outlining the strategy to media, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to intercept unauthorized devices.

About the border closure, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues across the international border, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to the neighboring nation and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners about the security challenges presented while potentially considering invocation of the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, specifically concerning defense matters - officials noted.

Flight Cancellations

Lithuanian airports were closed three times at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, per transportation authority data.

In recent weeks, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, according to emergency management officials.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: as of 6 October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania across the frontier in recent months, an NCMC spokesman said, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

International Perspective

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - faced comparable aviation security challenges, with unauthorized drone observations, over past months.