Balloon smuggled to Lithuania / File photo / AP
Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania suspended operations on Thursday (20.11.2025) after radar detected balloons in the airspace, the National Crisis Management Center announced. According to the authorities, these are balloons used by smugglers to transport illegal products from the neighboring country Belarus.
Last month, Lithuania temporarily closed several border crossings with Belarus after a series of weather balloon incursions disrupted air navigation and forced authorities to step up airspace surveillance.
Lithuanian authorities argue that the balloons are mainly used to smuggle cigarettes and accuse Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of not taking steps to stop these illegal crossings. Vilnius even speaks of a “hybrid attack”, believing that Minsk tolerates — or even encourages — these practices to destabilize the country.
Air traffic is expected to be restored once the area is secured and the balloons are removed, according to emergency services.