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Lithuania will begin to shoot down aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after unauthorized aerial incursions disrupted air traffic on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "every required action" to shoot down balloons.

Regarding frontier restrictions, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, but no other movement will be allowed.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to the neighboring nation declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Belarus.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion on any issue of concern, particularly involving territorial protection - officials noted.

Travel Impacts

National air facilities experienced triple closures at the weekend due to weather balloons from Belarus, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

The phenomenon is not new: by autumn measurements, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from neighboring territory during current year, an NCMC spokesman said, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

International Perspective

Additional aviation facilities - such as Scandinavian and German locations - faced comparable aviation security challenges, including drone sightings, over past months.