Lithuania declares state of emergency over Belarus-linked ‘smuggler balloons’ disrupting airspace
VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania’s government on Monday declared a state of emergency in response to waves of weather balloons drifting in from Belarus and disrupting air traffic near the capital, a move it says is necessary to counter what it calls a hybrid operation by Minsk. The measure, which would grant additional powers to the armed forces to work alongside police and border guards to intercept the devices, has been sent to parliament for approval later today and could remain in force for up to three months if endorsed.
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Authorities say the balloons — commonly used by smugglers in Belarus to ferry contraband cigarettes over the border — have repeatedly forced flight reroutings and closures at Vilnius Airport in recent months. Lithuania’s Interior Ministry said 600 smuggling balloons and 197 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace so far this year. The disruptions affected more than 300 flights and 47,000 passengers in 2025, according to public broadcaster LRT. Vilnius Airport was closed multiple times in October and November; the most recent incident occurred Saturday.
“The state of emergency is being declared not only because of disruptions to civil aviation, but also due to national security concerns and the need for closer coordination among institutions,” Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič said during a cabinet meeting that was livestreamed from Vilnius.
Vilnius has accused Belarusian authorities of failing to stop smugglers’ use of the balloons and of tolerating — if not encouraging — their flights into Lithuania. The government frames the incursions as part of a broader set of hybrid tactics deployed by Minsk, an assertion that has drawn backing from Brussels. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week called the appearance of the balloons over Lithuania a “hybrid attack” and “completely unacceptable,” adding that the Commission is preparing further sanctions against Belarus.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed Lithuania’s warnings as exaggerated, calling claims about the danger posed by the balloons “unrealistic,” according to the pro-government Telegram channel Pul Pervogo.
Under the emergency framework proposed by the government, Lithuania’s armed forces would gain expanded authority to assist civilian agencies in tracking and removing balloons and drones from the sky, particularly in corridors affecting commercial flights. Officials say the measure is designed to speed decision-making and interagency coordination when devices are detected close to air routes serving Vilnius.
The disruptions have concentrated around the capital’s airspace, where flight paths are dense and safety margins are tight. Authorities say the devices often appear at altitudes and in locations that compel air traffic control to reroute or hold incoming aircraft, creating knock-on delays across the aviation network.
Lithuania last imposed a nationwide state of emergency in February 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While Monday’s measure is narrower in scope, officials say it reflects heightened security concerns along Lithuania’s border and the need to protect civil aviation from deliberate interference.
Lawmakers were expected to debate and vote on the government’s proposal later Monday in Vilnius. If approved, the emergency powers would take effect immediately.
Additional reporting: Reuters
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
