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Authorities have decided to intercept and destroy helium balloons carrying illicit goods from Belarus, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, affecting holiday travel, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely following repeated balloon incursions.

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures when our airspace is violated."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

About the border closure, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access between the two countries, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"Through these actions, we communicate to Belarus declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from Minsk officials.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns while potentially considering invocation of the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion about national security issues, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Flight Cancellations

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns over the weekend because of aerial devices from Belarus, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, according to Baltic News Service.

In recent weeks, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

The phenomenon is not new: by autumn measurements, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, while 966 were recorded last year.

International Perspective

Additional aviation facilities - covering northern and central European sites - experienced similar aerial disruptions, including drone sightings, in recent weeks.