Lithuania’s prime minister has ordered that smuggling balloons crossing the border from Belarus be shot down, describing them as part of “hybrid attacks.”
Following repeated incursions of balloons carrying cigarettes, the Baltic nation was forced to close Vilnius Airport four times last week and temporarily shut its borders with Belarus.
Inga Ruginienė said on Monday: “Today we have decided to take the strictest measures, there is no other way.” The Lithuanian government also plans to invoke Article 4 of NATO.
Speaking at a press conference, the prime minister reiterated that these incidents are being treated as “hybrid attacks,” adding that the borders with Belarus are now closed, with the exception of diplomatic crossings.
Lithuania, which borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus, has also recently demanded an explanation from Moscow after two Russian fighter jets briefly entered its airspace.
Lithuania’s foreign minister, Kęstutis Budrys, added: “These are calculated provocations designed to destabilise, distract, and test NATO’s resolve.”
