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The Baltic nation plans to eliminate helium balloons carrying cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

This decision follows after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close multiple times over the past week, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely following repeated balloon incursions.

The government leader stated, "our nation stands prepared to implement maximum response protocols when our airspace is violated."

National Security Actions

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to shoot down balloons.

About the border closure, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel across the international border, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, however general movement continues suspended.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," she said.

There has been no immediate response from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons with possible discussions about implementing the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion about national security issues, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures at the weekend due to weather balloons from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

Earlier this month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, per national security agency reports.

The phenomenon is not new: as of 6 October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from neighboring territory during current year, an NCMC spokesman said, while 966 were recorded last year.

Regional Situation

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, with unauthorized drone observations, during current period.