Lithuania declares “emergency” due to balloon incursions

Brussels – Lithuania has declared a “state of emergency” amid the uncontrolled influx of balloons from Belarus. In recent weeks, Lithuania’s two largest airports, Vilnius and Kaunas, have been forced to halt operations on several occasions due to the presence of these aircraft. For Vilnius, the overflight of balloons in national airspace is a “hybrid attack“ disguised as cigarette smuggling.

BREAKING:

Lithuania declares a nation-wide state of emergency due to the balloon intrusions from Belarus which repeatedly force Vilnius Airport to shut down operations. pic.twitter.com/30s2ZVZIu1

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 9, 2025

“All institutions are joining forces to deal with the threat posed by balloons launched by smugglers, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said in a note. In fact, balloons have long been used on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border for the illegal trade in cigarettes and prohibited materials. The above-average influx, however, raises the suspicion that this is not an exchange between criminal organisations from the two states, but real operations aimed at destabilising the small Baltic Republic. 

The doubt had already come to Deividas Matulionis, Lithuania’s chief national security adviser, in October, who at the time stated: “It is becoming increasingly clear that this is no ordinary smuggling. Smuggling is being used as a cover for what is actually a hybrid psychological operation.”

The technical characteristics of these balloons are dangerous. They fly at low altitude, making interception very difficult. In addition, their speed is around 100-200 kilometres per hour, making them lethal in the event of contact with an airliner.

In an attempt to limit the phenomenon, Vilnius has closed its border crossings. The Parliament made the decision at the end of October, but the raids continued in November. Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic today gave the green light for the military to inspect, together with the police, the border with Belarus.