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The Baltic nation plans to intercept and destroy aerial devices transporting contraband tobacco across the border, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, with weekend disruptions, accompanied by temporary closures of frontier checkpoints during these events.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said, "we are ready to take the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to intercept unauthorized devices.

About the border closure, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, but no other movement will be allowed.

"This represents our clear message to Belarus stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from the neighboring government.

Diplomatic Measures

Lithuania plans to consult its allies regarding the aerial device concerns while potentially considering invocation of the NATO consultation clause - a request for consultation by a Nato member country about national security issues, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Lithuanian airports were closed three times at the weekend due to weather balloons originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

These incidents continue previous patterns: by autumn measurements, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from neighboring territory during current year, per government spokesperson comments, while 966 were recorded last year.

International Perspective

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, including drone sightings, over past months.