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Authorities have decided to shoot down aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

This action responds after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, including at the weekend, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

According to official declarations, "we are ready to take even the most severe actions during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Announcing the actions at a press conference, Ruginiene said the army was taking "all necessary measures" to eliminate aerial threats.

Concerning border measures, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues across the international border, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to Belarus declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Official communications saw no quick answer from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating Nato's Article 4 - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - she added.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures at the weekend due to weather balloons originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: through early October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus this year, per government spokesperson comments, while 966 were recorded last year.

Regional Situation

Other European airports - such as Scandinavian and German locations - experienced similar aerial disruptions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent weeks.