Lithuania’s government has announced a national emergency due to security concerns arising from meteorological balloons originating from Belarus, a country with close ties to Russia. These balloons have repeatedly breached Lithuanian airspace, leading to the closure of the main airport and stranding numerous travelers. The situation has raised alarm across Europe, given previous airspace violations during Ukraine’s conflict.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė emphasized the need for stringent measures to counter the Belarusian hybrid attack, particularly in areas most impacted. The decision came after a cabinet meeting in Lithuania, a NATO member that strongly supports Ukraine against Russian aggression.
The national emergency empowers the military to patrol the border alongside other security services and grants additional rights from parliament, such as conducting searches and detaining individuals. Authorities assure that the impact on civilians will be minimal.
The Lithuanian government suspects the balloons are being used to smuggle cigarettes into the country and views their presence and flight paths as intentional disruptions orchestrated by Belarus. The Vilnius international airport has faced over 60 hours of closure since October, affecting hundreds of flights and tens of thousands of passengers.
Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič revealed that Lithuanian prosecutors are investigating the balloons, and intelligence agencies will provide information on any connections to the Minsk regime. He highlighted the lack of Belarusian efforts to stop the balloon senders as evidence of a hybrid attack.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus dismissed Lithuania’s border closure as a “mad scam” and part of a supposed hybrid war against his nation. He refuted allegations of Belarus conducting hybrid attacks and downplayed the threat posed by the balloons to civil aviation, accusing Vilnius of politicizing the issue.
Lukashenko called for diplomatic negotiations between Minsk and Vilnius to resolve the situation amicably. Lithuania, Poland, and other EU countries have accused Belarus of instigating instability through various means, including cyberattacks and migrant influxes to their borders.
Belarusian analyst Valery Karbalevich suggested that the balloon incidents intensified after Lukashenko secured the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Belavia, the national airline. Karbalevich believes Lukashenko aims to leverage the situation to push for eased EU sanctions and initiate negotiations by pressuring Lithuania.
