Lithuania on Edge: ‘Hybrid Attack’ Balloons Force Border Closure Talks

A burgeoning crisis has gripped Lithuania as its National Security Commission convened urgently on Monday, addressing what authorities describe as a “hybrid attack” stemming from Belarusian territory. The catalyst for this alarm is a persistent influx of meteor balloons, allegedly carrying contraband, that has repeatedly forced border closures and disrupted airspace in recent days.

In a significant escalation, the Lithuanian government is poised to make a pivotal decision this Wednesday regarding the indefinite closure of its border with Belarus. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, speaking after the security meeting, confirmed the readiness to implement such a measure. While diplomatic personnel, diplomatic mail, and EU/Lithuanian citizens would still be permitted entry from Belarus, all other movement would cease. “We are sending a clear signal to Belarus that we will not tolerate any hybrid attacks here and will take the strictest possible measures to suppress such actions,” Ruginiene stated emphatically.

This extraordinary stance by Vilnius comes in direct response to a series of escalating incidents. On the evening of October 26, an unprecedented number of aerostats, purportedly laden with contraband cigarettes, were launched from Belarus into Lithuanian airspace. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center, reported the detection of 66 such objects, approximately double the number recorded just the day prior, though only one balloon has currently been recovered.

The disruptive impact of these aerial incursions has been immediate and severe. Vilnius International Airport has been compelled to suspend operations a staggering four times. Concurrently, Lithuania has, on multiple occasions, preemptively shut down both of its major land border crossings with Belarus – Medininkai (opposite Belarus’s Kamenny Log) and Salcininkai (opposite Benyakoni). The timeline for their reopening remains uncertain following the latest closures.

Deividas Matulionis, Senior Advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, underscored the gravity of the situation, declaring that Lithuania finds itself in a “sufficiently serious crisis.” Matulionis dismissed the notion that these balloon flights are mere smuggling attempts, asserting they are a “hybrid psychological operation” using contraband as a smokescreen.

Lithuania’s resolve extends beyond border closures. Prime Minister Ruginiene indicated that the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs would swiftly push for additional EU sanctions against Belarus. She emphasized close coordination with allies, stating, “We are actively consulting and communicating with our allies and neighbours, Poland and Latvia. All our actions are harmonized with them; we are not an isolated state, but part of NATO and the EU. We coordinate everything we do with them.” Furthermore, the government plans to amend the Criminal Code to introduce harsher penalties for smuggling, potentially replacing fines with prison sentences. Ruginiene also issued a stern warning: should the flow of contraband balloons persist, Lithuania might consider invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, initiating high-level consultations within the Alliance regarding these aerial threats.

President Gitanas Nausėda echoed the government’s firm stance. His administration conveyed to Lithuanian journalists that the President views the recent incidents and airport disruptions as a “hybrid attack on Lithuania, which demands both symmetric and asymmetric responses.” Among the options being considered for government action in the coming days are not only a prolonged closure of the Belarusian border but also potential restrictions on transit to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.

Meanwhile, on the Belarusian side, President Alexander Lukashenka appears to be pursuing a markedly different strategy to navigate his nation’s international standing. Despite Lithuania’s moves to isolate Belarus further, Lukashenka on Monday engaged in significant diplomatic outreach, hosting Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, the Vatican’s special envoy. This visit, initially linked to the Pinsk diocese anniversary, has taken on clear diplomatic significance, as reported by “NG” on October 27, 2025.

The high-profile meeting saw President Lukashenka extending maximum respect to the Cardinal, who previously served as the Papal Nuncio to Belarus. This prior relationship ideally positions Gugerotti as a potential mediator for Lukashenka, who is seemingly eager to leverage Vatican influence to alleviate Belarus’s international isolation. “I am fully acquainted with the details of your visit. I am very glad that you remembered Belarus and that you liked Belarus, and our people. Everyone. Not just Catholics, Orthodox. And other people. Even Muslims received your visit very well,” Lukashenka stated, expressing hope for improved relations.

Cardinal Gugerotti responded with a message of reconciliation and shared humanity: “Dialogue is important. To look into each other’s eyes, to understand that we have the same thing – a soul. Then everything is possible when you feel that you respect and love a person. The future is in our hands and in God’s hands.” President Lukashenka enthusiastically agreed, highlighting the contrasting approaches of the two neighboring nations in the face of escalating tensions.