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Authorities have decided to shoot down aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, including at the weekend, while authorities suspended Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

International border access continues restricted following repeated balloon incursions.

The government leader stated, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."

Government Response

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "every required action" to intercept unauthorized devices.

Regarding frontier restrictions, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to Belarus stating that asymmetric operations face opposition within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

Official communications saw no quick answer from the neighboring government.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies over the threat posed from the balloons and may discuss activating Nato's Article 4 - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures during holiday periods from balloon incidents from Belarus, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

In recent weeks, multiple aerial devices crossed into Lithuanian airspace, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: as of 6 October, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders across the frontier in recent months, an NCMC spokesman said, while 966 were recorded last year.

Regional Situation

International air travel hubs - covering northern and central European sites - experienced similar aerial disruptions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent weeks.