Lithuania Closes Airports, Border Crossings Following Repeated Airspace Violations
VILNIUS, Lithuania – Lithuania has closed two airports and several border crossings with Belarus for a second consecutive night after repeated airspace violations involving balloons suspected of carrying contraband cigarettes. Vilnius and Kaunas airports suspended operations on October 24, and the Salcininkai and Medininkai border crossing points were closed until noon on October 25, according to inga Ruginiene, a representative of the State Border Guard Service.
The closures follow a series of incidents this month where balloons originating from Belarus entered Lithuanian airspace.On October 5 and 21, Lithuanian authorities were forced to close the airspace above Vilnius, resulting in the cancellation of dozens of flights. This latest incident marks the fourth such violation in a month.
“The State Border Guard Service has closed the Salcininkai and Medininkai border crossing points until noon tomorrow,” Ruginiene wrote on Facebook, citing national security concerns. “The services are acting in accordance with the decisions taken at this week’s National Security Commission meeting. Next week, the commission will meet again to assess the effectiveness of the measures taken and determine what else can be done.”
Lithuania shares a 680-kilometer (420-mile) border with Belarus, which remains a close ally of Russia and has provided political, economic, and military support to Moscow during its ongoing war in Ukraine.
The incidents occur amid a broader surge in suspicious aerial activity across Europe, raising fears of hybrid operations.Recent disruptions have been reported at airports in munich, oslo, and Copenhagen, while Poland and Romania have reported violations of their airspace by Russian drones.
