On October 29, 2025, Lithuania’s government took the extraordinary step of extending the closure of its last two border crossings with neighboring Belarus, a move that is sending ripples through the region and raising tensions between the two countries. The decision comes after a series of unusual and disruptive incidents in which balloons, reportedly used to smuggle cigarettes, repeatedly violated Lithuanian airspace and forced the shutdown of major airports in the Baltic nation. According to Reuters, these disruptions have caused the cancellation or diversion of 112 flights, directly affecting more than 16,000 passengers over just one weekend.
The Lithuanian Cabinet announced that the border crossing at Šalčininkai would be completely closed, while passage through Medininkai, near Vilnius, would be severely restricted for at least a month, as reported by BNS and ABC. Some exemptions will apply: Lithuanian and EU citizens, as well as Russians holding transit documentation to reach the Kaliningrad exclave, will still be permitted to cross at Medininkai. Diplomats, citizens of NATO countries, Ukrainians leaving Belarus, and foreigners with Lithuanian humanitarian visas will also be exempted from the closure, according to Reuters.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, made Lithuania’s stance clear: “We do not rule out extending this for as long as necessary. If we continue to see attacks directed at Lithuania, we will continue this strict measure.” She described the balloon incursions as a “form of hybrid attack,” and announced that Lithuania would begin shooting them down if necessary (Reuters). Ruginienė acknowledged the inconvenience to citizens and businesses, stating, “We understand this will be an inconvenience to our citizens and businesses, and we regret that, but we view security extremely seriously.”
These balloons, according to Lithuanian officials, have become a tool for continuous disruption. The devices—carrying cartons of cigarettes wrapped in packing tape—have caused Vilnius and Kaunas airports to shut down on five separate occasions in October alone, according to Reuters. Police have arrested several suspected smugglers who attempted to retrieve packages where the balloons landed, and fines of up to several thousand euros have been imposed.
The Lithuanian government views these incidents as part of a larger campaign by Belarus, an ally of Russia, to destabilize its neighbor. Lithuania, a member of both NATO and the European Union, sits on the alliance’s eastern flank and shares borders with both Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. The country has been a vocal critic of the Belarusian regime, especially since 2020, when it became a haven for Belarusian opposition figures such as Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, for his part, has responded with scorn and defiance. On October 28, 2025, Lukashenko denounced Lithuania’s move as a “mad scam” and a “crazy scam,” calling the balloon incidents an “absurd excuse even for a small country like Lithuania.” He went on to accuse Lithuania of waging a “hybrid war” against Belarus and claimed that the real problem lay on the Lithuanian side of the border. “If air balloons loaded with cigarettes are flying there, I guess they need to solve the issue on their end,” Lukashenko said, as quoted by BNS. “They didn’t just fly off into nowhere—someone is receiving them there, someone is interested in this. They need to track down those responsible and stop such things at the root.” He added that Belarus would apologize if its involvement was proven.
The Belarusian customs authority joined in the criticism, calling Lithuania’s border closures a “thoughtless and unfriendly policy” that would harm business in the region, Reuters reported. Lukashenko also accused Vilnius of trying to hinder Chinese exports to the West by escalating tensions, and he claimed that the West was fighting a “hybrid war” against both Belarus and Russia, ushering in a new era of “barbed-wire division.”
The European Union has taken a strong stance in support of Lithuania. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking on behalf of the 27 member states, condemned the balloon incidents as “not merely smuggling tools, but occur in the context of a broader targeted hybrid campaign, along with other actions that also include state-sponsored migrant smuggling.” Kallas added, “We will not tolerate any hybrid campaign directed against the EU or any of its member states. Sanctions have been imposed on the Belarusian regime, and the EU stands ready to take further appropriate measures should such actions continue.” The EU has also called on Belarus “to adopt without further delay effective measures to control its airspace, state border and territory, and fight and prevent organised criminal activities originating within it.”
The international response has not been limited to Europe. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Belarus envoy, John Coale, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice American support for Lithuania, stating, “I made clear we stand in solidarity with Lithuania amidst recent balloon incursions.”
For many Lithuanians, these events are more than just a border security issue—they are a test of national resilience and a reminder of the country’s strategic vulnerability. Lithuania, with a population of 2.9 million, has long been wary of its powerful neighbors to the east. The recent disruptions have only heightened concerns about the potential for escalation and the use of unconventional tactics—so-called “hybrid warfare”—in the region.
While the closures are intended to send a clear message to Belarus, they come at a cost. The disruption to air travel has inconvenienced thousands, and the border restrictions are already impacting trade and local communities on both sides of the frontier. Nevertheless, Lithuanian officials insist that security must take precedence. Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic summed up the government’s position during the Cabinet meeting: “We believe these measures should send a clear message to our not-so-friendly neighbor, which is making no effort to address the problem.”
As the standoff continues, all eyes are on Vilnius and Minsk. The next month will be crucial in determining whether the border closures and heightened security measures will put an end to the balloon incidents—or whether this episode is just the latest volley in a broader regional contest. For now, Lithuania is standing firm, determined not to let its airspace or sovereignty be undermined by what it sees as provocations from across the border.
