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Authorities have decided to intercept and destroy aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of cross-border movement during each incident.

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

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures against airspace violations."

Official Measures

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

Regarding frontier restrictions, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, however general movement continues suspended.

"This represents our clear message to the neighboring nation and saying that no hybrid attack will be tolerated here, and we will take all the strictest measures to halt these operations," she said.

Official communications saw no quick answer from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners regarding the aerial device concerns and may discuss activating the NATO consultation clause - a request for consultation by a Nato member country regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - she added.

Travel Impacts

National air facilities experienced triple closures at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.

The phenomenon is not new: through early October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania across the frontier in recent months, according to official statements, while 966 were recorded last year.

European Context

Other European airports - such as Scandinavian and German locations - have also been affected by air incursions, with unauthorized drone observations, during current period.