The Lithuanian government to shoot down illicit aerial devices, PM warns.
Lithuania will begin to shoot down aerial devices transporting cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, government officials confirmed.
The measure comes after foreign objects crossing the border forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.
Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.
According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ maximum response protocols during unauthorized aerial intrusions."
Official Measures
Announcing the actions at a press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.
Regarding frontier restrictions, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.
"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition here, and we will take all the strictest measures to prevent similar incidents," she said.
Official communications saw no quick answer from Minsk officials.
Diplomatic Measures
Authorities will discuss with international allies regarding the aerial device concerns while potentially considering invocation of the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country about national security issues, particularly involving territorial protection - the Prime Minister concluded.
Flight Cancellations
Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns during holiday periods from balloon incidents originating from neighboring territory, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, according to Baltic News Service.
Earlier this month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.
The phenomenon is not new: as of 6 October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, according to official statements, while 966 were recorded last year.
Regional Situation
Other European airports - including in Copenhagen and Munich - experienced similar aerial disruptions, including drone sightings, over past months.
Related Security Topics
- Border Security
- Unauthorized Flight Operations
- Cross-Border Contraband
- Flight Security
