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Lithuania will begin to shoot down aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures repeatedly in recent days, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "authorities will not hesitate to employ the strictest possible measures against airspace violations."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, officials stated defense units were executing "every required action" to shoot down balloons.

Concerning border measures, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues between the two countries, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, however general movement continues suspended.

"In this way, we are sending a signal to Belarus declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Minsk officials.

Diplomatic Measures

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns and may discuss activating Nato's Article 4 - a request for consultation by a Nato member country about national security issues, specifically concerning defense matters - she added.

Flight Cancellations

Lithuanian airports were closed three times at the weekend due to weather balloons crossing the international border, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

Earlier this month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, according to emergency management officials.

The phenomenon is not new: as of 6 October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, per government spokesperson comments, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

International Perspective

International air travel hubs - covering northern and central European sites - faced comparable aviation security challenges, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent weeks.