In Lithuania, for the second time this week, both border checkpoints with Belarus were temporarily closed due to the appearance of weather balloons that affect air traffic.
News agencies report this, including data from LRT and Ukrinform.
Due to cigarette smuggling from Belarus using weather balloons, Kaunas and Vilnius airports suspended operations late Friday. As a result, for the second time this week, a decision was made to temporarily close two operating border crossing points on the border with Belarus
– Statement
Temporary closure and next steps
According to Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginene, the border guard service closed the Šalčininkai and Medininkai border crossing points until 12:00 on Saturday.
According to her, the services are acting in line with the decisions made this week by the National Security Commission. After the meeting, Ruginene warned that if cases of mass launches of weather balloons from Belarusian territory repeat, the border could be fully closed.
It is noted that at the Lithuanian-Belarusian border there are currently only two crossing points operating – at Medininkai and Šalčininkai. Earlier this week, on Wednesday, due to a similar situation they had already been closed from 2:30 to 9:00 in the morning.
Ruginene added that next week the National Security Commission will reconvene to assess the effectiveness of the decisions already taken.
According to Lithuanian media, on Friday evening, due to weather balloons moving in the direction of Druskininkai – Šalčininkai, air traffic at Vilnius and Kaunas airports was temporarily restricted.
As Ukrinform reported, on October 22 Lithuania had already temporarily closed both border crossing points on the border with Belarus after more than ten weather balloons flew into its territory overnight from the Belarusian side.
Their actions show signs of criminal offenses provided for in Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Threat or violence against a law enforcement officer” and Article 194 “Deliberate destruction or damage to property.” The relevant notices have been sent to the National Police
– National Police
The border situation is under control, and the relevant services continue monitoring and plan further steps after the next meeting of the National Security Commission.