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The Baltic nation plans to eliminate balloons used to smuggle contraband tobacco across the border, the country's leader announced.

This action responds after foreign objects crossing the border disrupted air traffic on several occasions recently, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended frontier checkpoints during these events.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

The government leader stated, "we are ready to take the strictest possible measures when our airspace is violated."

Official Measures

Announcing the actions at a press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to intercept unauthorized devices.

About the border closure, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access across the international border, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to halt these operations," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing Nato's Article 4 - a protocol allowing member state consultation on any issue of concern, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Flight Cancellations

National air facilities experienced triple closures over the weekend because of aerial devices from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, based on regional media reports.

In recent weeks, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, 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, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders across the frontier in recent months, an NCMC spokesman said, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - experienced similar aerial disruptions, with unauthorized drone observations, in recent weeks.