Lithuania to shoot down illicit aerial devices, Prime Minister announces.

Authorities have decided to intercept and destroy helium balloons carrying cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace disrupted air traffic on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, with the government also closing frontier checkpoints during these events.

International border access continues restricted due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures when our airspace is violated."

Government Response

Detailing the measures during a briefing, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

About the border closure, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel across the international border, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, but no other movement will be allowed.

"This represents our clear message to the neighboring nation declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

Authorities will discuss with international allies about the security challenges presented and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, particularly involving territorial protection - officials noted.

Flight Cancellations

National air facilities experienced triple closures during holiday periods from balloon incidents originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, per transportation authority data.

In recent weeks, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, per national security agency reports.

The phenomenon is not new: through early October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

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.