Lithuania Declares Emergency Over Belarus Balloon Violations

Lithuania's government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in response to repeated airspace violations by meteorological balloons launched from neighboring Belarus, which have forced the closure of Vilnius International Airport and stranded thousands of passengers.

The Baltic nation, a NATO member bordering Russia-allied Belarus, cited national security risks and threats to civil aviation as the primary reasons for the declaration. Officials described the balloons as part of a hybrid attack orchestrated by Belarus, intended to disrupt operations despite their initial use by smugglers to transport contraband cigarettes. The measure, announced after a cabinet meeting, grants the military expanded authority to patrol border areas alongside police and border guards, including the power to conduct searches and detentions. "In combating the Belarusian hybrid attack, we must take the strictest measures and defend the areas most affected by this attack," Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said.

Since October, the balloons have prompted more than 60 hours of closures at Vilnius International Airport, located less than 50 kilometers from the Belarusian border. The disruptions have...