VILNIUS — The government of Lithuania has drawn up plans to indefinitely close its remaining border crossings with Belarus, citing repeated disruptions from suspected smuggler balloons that entered Lithuanian airspace and caused major disruptions to airports over the weekend. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said the government has prepared a draft decision to shut the two crossings at Medininkai and Šalčininkai indefinitely, with exceptions only for diplomats, diplomatic mail and EU citizens entering the country.
The escalation follows multiple nights of air-traffic disturbances at Vilnius Airport and Kaunas Airport, when large numbers of balloons believed to be launched from Belarus and used to smuggle cigarettes, drifted into Lithuanian airspace, prompting airport closures, flight cancellations and diversion of aircraft. Lithuanian officials have characterised the balloon incursions as “hybrid attacks”, asserting that Belarus has either facilitated or failed to prevent the smuggling activity, which they say threatens national security and the integrity of EU airspace.
The indefinite border closure plan underscores how the balloon disruptions are being treated not merely as a smuggling issue but as a broader security threat. Analysts suggest the move reflects Lithuania’s growing concern that Belarus (and by extension Russia) may exploit non-military means such as contraband balloon deliveries to undermine EU and NATO states.
If the border crossings are shut, vehicles and persons traffic will be halted except under the limited exemptions. The government has said a formal decision is expected by mid-week. Meanwhile, the two checkpoints have already been closed repeatedly for short periods during the weekend’s incidents.
This development places Lithuania at the forefront of confronting so-called “hybrid threats” along the EU’s eastern frontier, and may prompt coordination with NATO and other European partners on air-space and border-security measures.
