The Lithuanian government has declared a 'nationwide emergency situation' in response to a series of incursions from neighbouring Belarus by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene condemned the balloon incursions as a 'hybrid attack' by Belarus that posed a real risk to national security and civil aviation.
This year alone, officials say about 600 balloons linked to smuggling and almost 200 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace, leading to the repeated closure of Vilnius airport.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko denies being behind the incursions, alleging the issue has been 'politicised' by Lithuania, which is a member of both the EU and NATO.
Lithuania's decision to impose an 'emergency situation' is a step below a state of emergency, which was last imposed in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It grants the armed forces additional powers to respond faster and more effectively.
Belarus's long-time leader is a close ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Lithuania's president, Gitanas Nauseda, has emphasized significant evidence that the balloon threat is a 'deliberate action aimed at destabilising the situation in Lithuania.'
A number of European countries have faced hybrid threats from Russia, which the EU has condemned as a 'hybrid campaign' that includes sabotage, disruption to critical infrastructure, and most recently drone flights near sensitive sites.
Last month, the head of NATO's military committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, indicated that the Western military alliance was considering a more 'aggressive' stance against Russia's hybrid warfare.
Lithuania has a history of accusing Belarus of provocations, notably when thousands of irregular migrants from the Middle East crossed the Belarusian border four years ago.
In light of the recent threats, Lithuania closed two border checkpoints with Belarus for three weeks from the end of October. In retaliation, Belarus banned Lithuanian trucks from its roads, resulting in hundreds of stranded Lithuanian vehicles.
Ruginiene remarked on the implications for aviation security and international law, stating that such actions could be viewed as terrorism.
The weather balloons can reach heights of 10km (6 miles), causing significant disruption to flights at Vilnius airport, with operations suspended for over 60 hours since October, affecting 30,000 passengers in that month alone.
Lukashenko has dismissed the accusations, arguing that the notion of balloons infringing on Lithuanian airspace is improbable and questioned Lithuania's intent, suggesting they do not seek conflict.
