Lithuania has announced stringent measures to counter the increasing incursions of helium weather balloons from Belarus, which are being used for cigarette smuggling. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene declared that the Lithuanian army is prepared to take severe actions, including shooting down these balloons, to protect its airspace. The decision follows multiple disruptions at Vilnius Airport, which was forced to close several times over the past week, affecting 112 flights and over 16,500 passengers. Additionally, border checkpoints with Belarus have been closed indefinitely in response to the ongoing violations. Ruginiene emphasized that while diplomats, EU citizens, and Lithuanians will still be permitted to cross the border, all other movements will be restricted. She stated, ‘We are sending a clear signal to Belarus that no hybrid attack will be tolerated, and we will take the strictest measures to prevent such incidents.’ Lithuania also plans to consult its NATO allies regarding the threat posed by these balloons and may consider invoking NATO’s Article 4, which allows member states to request consultations on security concerns. The phenomenon is not new, with 544 balloons recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus this year alone, following 966 incidents in 2024. Similar airspace violations have also been reported in other European cities, including Copenhagen and Munich.