Lithuania Authorizes Shooting Down of Belarus Balloons, Closes Border
Lithuania today authorized the shooting down of balloons crossing its border from Belarus, following the detection of as many as 66 balloons by Lithuanian radar overnight, escalating tensions on NATO’s eastern flank.
The Lithuanian government has characterized the balloon incursions as a “hybrid attack” and has temporarily closed its roughly 400-mile border with Belarus. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė stated at a press conference today, “No hybrid attack will be tolerated. We will take the strictest possible measures to stop such actions.” Some of the balloons were assessed to weigh between 110 and 130 pounds, posing a significant threat to aircraft. The incident follows similar disruptions to air traffic throughout the week, including the closure of Vilnius Airport on four separate occasions, impacting over 170 flights.
Officials suspect the balloons may be part of a deliberate provocation, potentially with Moscow’s approval, or that Belarus is intentionally allowing the contraband balloons to drift into Lithuanian airspace. Deividas Matulionis, a senior advisor to the Lithuanian president, described the situation as a “hybrid psychological operation” aimed at disrupting daily life. Lithuania is also considering invoking NATO’s Article 4, which allows for consultation among member states when they feel threatened, a procedure used only nine times in the alliance’s history. This latest event underscores a pattern of escalating hybrid warfare tactics employed in the region, as detailed in recent reports on cybersecurity and hybrid threats.
Lithuania’s Air Defense Battalion is equipped with systems like NASAMS, RBS 70, and Avenger, though some stocks have been depleted due to aid to Ukraine. While Lithuania lacks fighter jets, it is protected by NATO’s Baltic Air Policing, currently with Hungarian and Spanish forces stationed in Šiauliai. The government is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss potentially extending the border closure indefinitely, allowing limited exceptions for Lithuanian and EU citizens and diplomatic mail.
Officials indicated that Lithuania’s response will be crucial in deterring further provocations, and are not ruling out further measures, including potential restrictions on transit to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
