Lithuania to shoot down illicit aerial devices, government leader states.

Lithuania will begin to shoot down helium balloons carrying illicit goods from Belarus, government officials confirmed.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions disrupted air traffic on several occasions recently, affecting holiday travel, accompanied by temporary closures of cross-border movement during each incident.

International border access continues restricted due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

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

National Security Actions

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to shoot down balloons.

About the border closure, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

Diplomatic Measures

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners about the security challenges presented with possible discussions about implementing Nato's Article 4 - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, specifically concerning defense matters - the Prime Minister concluded.

Airport Disruptions

Lithuanian airports were closed three times during holiday periods from balloon incidents originating from neighboring territory, affecting 112 flights and more than 16,500 passengers, based on regional media reports.

During the current month, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, 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 from neighboring territory during current year, an NCMC spokesman said, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

European Context

International air travel hubs - covering northern and central European sites - faced comparable aviation security challenges, including drone sightings, during current period.