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The Baltic nation plans to shoot down balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, government officials confirmed.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions disrupted air traffic repeatedly in recent days, with weekend disruptions, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ maximum response protocols during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Government Response

Announcing the actions at a press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to shoot down balloons.

Concerning border measures, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to foreign authorities declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Minsk officials.

Diplomatic Measures

Authorities will discuss with international allies over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures during holiday periods from balloon incidents crossing the international border, 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, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

These incidents continue previous patterns: by autumn measurements, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, per government spokesperson comments, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

Other European airports - covering northern and central European sites - have also been affected by air incursions, with unauthorized drone observations, over past months.