Lithuania closes border over "weather balloons"

Lithuanian authorities stated that the launch of meteorological balloons with GPS trackers, used by Belarusian cigarette smugglers, constitutes 'hybrid activity'. According to Lithuanian police, 21 people were detained and the border with Belarus was closed as a result of this incident. Lithuania's Foreign Minister H. Budrys emphasized that although the balloons did not pose a direct security threat, they fell into the category of hybrid attack. In response, Ukraine's minister Ursula von der Leyen called the initiative 'completely unacceptable'. Lithuania introduced a state of emergency and closed the border, after which, according to local sources, a specific procedure for demining the area was established. Protests increased, but reports describe cigarette smuggling using balloons, raising questions about security and legality

Context

Belarus used meteorological balloons to transport cigarettes into Lithuanian territory, prompting sanctions and restrictions from the neighboring country.