The Prime Minister of Lithuania, Inga Ruginene, stated that authorities have control over the situation with balloons from Belarus. According to her, Lithuanian security agencies confirmed this during a press conference in Tallinn, reports local broadcaster LRT.
“We can say that the balloons are under control; we already know what they are and how they work. In the defense sphere, we need to respond as quickly as possible and be flexible to keep up with technology”
– Prime Minister of Lithuania
“The priority should be air defense, starting with detection systems and other systems. Today, all defense decisions are focused on this”
– Inga Ruginene
Lithuania’s Control of the Balloon Situation From Belarus
The Prime Minister called on Latvia and Estonia to strengthen air defense and boost cooperation among regional countries.
On October 29, Lithuania decided to close by November 30 the Šalčininkai and Medininkai border crossing points on the border with Belarus due to the growing number of incidents involving balloons that increasingly enter Lithuanian airspace from the Belarusian side.
On October 27, Vilnius International Airport temporarily halted operations due to balloons arriving from Belarus. During the night of October 25–26, and again in the morning, air traffic at the airport was halted. About 3,500 passengers and 25 flights were affected: four flights were canceled, seven redirected.
As a result, by the end of October, air traffic in Lithuania recorded four incursions caused by balloons from Belarus.
The situation remains under control: the country continues monitoring, strengthens defenses, and coordinates with neighboring states.