Lithuania declares a state of emergency due to aerial contraband attacks from Belarus
Lithuania has declared a state of emergency across the entire country in response to the threat posed by contraband balloons launched from Belarus.
According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, this situation has been ongoing for several months and poses a national security threat. The head of emergency management has been appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladislav Kondratovich, who emphasized that the measures will not affect the population but will only be aimed at the organizers of illegal activities.
Contraband balloons negatively impact Lithuania’s civil aviation, and also disrupt the operations of Vilnius Airport, causing financial losses and damage to reputation. Since October 2025, the airport experienced stops for over 60 hours, affecting more than 300 flights and 47,000 passengers.
To reduce the impact of the threat, it was decided to introduce a state of emergency throughout the country. This decision will allow closer coordination of state authorities’ actions with the support of military units if necessary. Additionally, the state of emergency will enable a quicker response to changing balloon courses due to wind direction, complicating prediction of their movement.
The situation remains tense; on November 29, Vilnius Airport was closed all night due to the balloon threat, on December 4, a man was detained for attempting to use a drone near the airport, and on December 7, flight disruptions led to delays for over 1,000 passengers.
| Date | Events |
|---|---|
| November 29 | Closure of Vilnius Airport due to balloons |
| December 4 | Detention of a man for drone use |
| December 7 | Flight disruptions, delay of 1,000 passengers |
