Lithuania Declares National Emergency Over Suspicious Balloons From Belarus

Lithuania declared a national emergency on Tuesday in response to hundreds of suspicious weather balloons and drones entering its airspace from Belarus throughout 2025. Lithuanian officials accuse Belarus of launching these devices, primarily to smuggle cigarettes, as part of a hybrid attack campaign. The balloons and drones have disrupted air traffic, causing over 350 flight delays and cancellations since October, impacting approximately 51,000 passengers and costing over 750,000 euros. The declared emergency aims to bolster security, tighten border controls, and allow faster coordination between military and civilian security services to counter the threat. While Russia and Belarus deny involvement, NATO and the EU are grappling with how to respond to such hybrid attacks.

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