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The Baltic nation plans to shoot down balloons used to smuggle illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, with weekend disruptions, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely following repeated balloon incursions.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "we are ready to take even the most severe actions during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Announcing the actions at a press conference, officials stated defense units were executing "complete operational protocols" to intercept unauthorized devices.

About the border closure, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues between the two countries, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, however general movement continues suspended.

"Through these actions, we communicate to Belarus and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to prevent similar incidents," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - officials noted.

Flight Cancellations

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns at the weekend due to weather balloons from Belarus, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, according to emergency management officials.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: through early October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus this year, according to official statements, while 966 were recorded last year.

International Perspective

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - have also been affected by air incursions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, during current period.