Lithuania: Lithuania has declared an emergency after a surge in meteorological balloons drifting in from neighbouring Belarus, deepening a long-running standoff between the two countries.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced the measure on Tuesday, saying the flights pose a growing security risk and require the strongest possible response.
Lithuanian officials say the balloons, once used mainly to smuggle cigarettes, are now suspected of being deployed by Belarusian security services. Vilnius considers them part of a broader hybrid attack, a term it has used in the past to describe pressure from Minsk. Repeated balloon incursions since October have forced temporary shutdowns of Lithuanian airspace and disrupted aviation across the country.
Ruginiene said all state institutions are joining forces to deal with the threat, especially in areas along the border that are most frequently targeted. The declaration allows the military to support police and border guards in patrols and rapid response duties. Prosecutors have also opened an investigation, and intelligence agencies are examining possible links to the Belarusian state.
Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said authorities now believe the flights are coordinated rather than random smuggling attempts. Lithuania has faced similar tactics before.
Lithuania is unlocking necessary tools by adopting the state of emergency. The goal is to counter asap the hybrid attack from Belarus that was unleashed on Europe. Been there done that. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/91vL6VCiZm
— LT MFA StratCom | #StandWithUkraine (@LT_MFA_Stratcom) December 9, 2025
In 2021, the government declared an emergency when thousands of migrants crossed the border from Belarus in what Vilnius described as an organised effort to destabilise the country.
Concerns over hybrid tactics have risen across Europe as Russia continues its war in Ukraine. Several NATO members have reported sabotage attempts, espionage, and other pressure along their eastern borders. Poland has also struggled with balloon incursions and irregular activity linked to Belarus in recent years.
The impact on Lithuania’s airports has been significant. Vilnius International Airport alone has been closed for more than 60 hours since October, affecting more than 350 flights and about 51,000 passengers. Authorities say balloon activity poses a direct risk to civil aviation and must be treated as a serious security challenge.
The emergency is one level below a state of emergency, which can only be declared by parliament when the country’s constitutional order is threatened. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed Lithuania’s move and accused Vilnius of exaggeration, saying his country does not seek conflict.
