Lithuania has declared a state of emergency across the entire country due to attacks by balloons carrying contraband from Belarus, which have been ongoing for months. This was reported by the country's Ministry of the Interior.
Threat to aviation
Vladislav Kondratovich, head of Lithuania's Ministry of the Interior, has been appointed head of the State Emergency Management Agency for this period. The statement said that the balloons carrying contraband pose a threat to the country's national security interests.
The frequent launching of balloons from Belarus threatens Lithuania's civil aviation and disrupts operations at Vilnius Airport. This leads to the loss of the ability to transport passengers and cargo, significant financial losses, and reputational damage.
Scale of the problem
According to the ministry, since October 2025 Vilnius Airport has been closed for almost 60 hours due to the threat posed by contraband balloons. This affected more than 300 flights and over 47,000 passengers.
The state of emergency was introduced nationwide because, depending on wind direction, the course of the balloons can change.
What will change
It should be noted that the introduction of a state of emergency across the entire country will not cause inconvenience to the population, as the measures applied will be targeted and proportionate, aimed solely at the organizers and perpetrators of unlawful activities
– Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania
The state of emergency will allow Lithuanian agencies to coordinate actions more closely and enlist the support of military units if necessary.
Context
The launching of balloons carrying contraband from Belarus is part of the hybrid war the Lukashenko regime is waging against the Baltic states and the European Union. This is not the first use of unconventional methods of pressure on the Lithuanian state – Minsk previously organized migration crises at the border.
