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The Baltic nation plans to shoot down aerial devices transporting cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, the country's leader announced.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions disrupted air traffic repeatedly in recent days, affecting holiday travel, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

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

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "we are ready to take the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

National Security Actions

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to eliminate aerial threats.

About the border closure, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation stating that asymmetric operations face opposition here, and we will take all the strictest measures to prevent similar incidents," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Belarus.

Diplomatic Measures

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a protocol allowing member state consultation on any issue of concern, particularly involving territorial protection - officials noted.

Airport Disruptions

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns during holiday periods from balloon incidents from Belarus, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current 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, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania from neighboring territory during current year, an NCMC spokesman said, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

European Context

International air travel hubs - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, including drone sightings, over past months.