Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė announced on Monday that the government has prepared plans to indefinitely shut its border crossings with Belarus. This decision comes in response to repeated disruptions at Vilnius Airport caused by suspected sightings of balloons allegedly used for smuggling cigarettes across the frontier. The National Security Commission convened after air traffic at Vilnius Airport was suspended on three consecutive evenings—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—leading to widespread flight cancellations, diversions, and delays. Kaunas Airport, located farther from the Belarusian border, was also affected on Friday. These incidents follow similar disruptions earlier in the week and in recent months. Both Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossings were temporarily closed following each balloon sighting, with the border guard service extending the closure for 24 hours on Sunday night. Prime Minister Ruginienė stated that the restrictions will remain in place until Wednesday, when the Cabinet will decide on a potential indefinite closure. The draft decision includes exemptions for diplomats, diplomatic mail, and EU citizens entering from Belarus. Lithuania, a member of both the EU and NATO, shares borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, a key ally of Russia. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled in Lithuania, described the balloon incidents as a form of hybrid aggression by the Belarusian regime. She expressed support for Lithuania’s actions and called for stronger sanctions against those involved in cigarette smuggling.
Lithuania draws up plans to shut Belarus border crossings indefinitely after balloon disruptions
