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Authorities have decided to eliminate aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, the country's leader announced.

This decision follows after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to intercept unauthorized devices.

Concerning border measures, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access between the two countries, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, but no other movement will be allowed.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from Minsk officials.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - officials noted.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns during holiday periods from balloon incidents from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

In recent weeks, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, according to emergency management officials.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: by autumn measurements, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, an NCMC spokesman said, while 966 were recorded last year.

Regional Situation

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - faced comparable aviation security challenges, with unauthorized drone observations, in recent weeks.