Vilnius vows to destroy contraband balloons entering its airspace from Belarus after repeated disruptions to flights and border operations.
Lithuania says it will begin shooting down balloons carrying smuggled goods from neighboring Belarus after a series of airspace violations disrupted air travel and heightened tensions along the border.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced the decision on Monday October 27, 2025, saying the government would no longer tolerate the incursions, which she described as “a growing threat to national security and public safety.”
“Lithuania will take decisive measures to protect its airspace. Any unauthorized objects entering from Belarus will be neutralized,” Ruginiene said at a press briefing in Vilnius.
Authorities say the balloons are being used by smugglers to transport contraband cigarettes from Belarus into the European Union. The lightweight devices, often launched at night, drift across the border and land deep inside Lithuanian territory, making them difficult to track or intercept before they cause disruptions.
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The problem reached new urgency last week when Vilnius Airport, the country’s busiest hub, was forced to close four times in five days after unidentified balloons were detected in flight paths. Each incident prompted temporary shutdowns of border crossings with Belarus and brief suspensions of air traffic.
Lithuanian officials accuse Minsk of turning a blind eye to the activity—or even encouraging it—as part of what they describe as “hybrid pressure tactics” against EU and NATO member states. “Belarus has the means to stop these launches but chooses not to,” said Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. “It’s another example of deliberate provocation.”
Belarus has not responded to the accusations. President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has faced repeated criticism from neighboring countries for facilitating migrant crossings and other actions aimed at destabilizing the region.
The balloon smuggling trade has been a growing concern for Baltic and Polish authorities in recent years. The contraband cigarettes, often produced cheaply in Belarus, are sold illegally across the EU, costing member states millions of euros in lost tax revenue.
Lithuania’s air force and border guards are now coordinating to deploy anti-drone and air defense units to monitor and neutralize balloons before they reach populated areas.
“This is not only about contraband,” Ruginiene said. “It’s about the integrity of our borders and the safety of our citizens. Lithuania will defend both without hesitation.”