"With Lithuanian airspace becoming a target of hybrid provocations, our response is clear - rapid reaction, coordinated actions, and zero tolerance."

"At the meeting of the National Security Commission today, we agreed on solutions and proposals that have been sought throughout the last extremely intense weekend for the institutions. The solutions include kinetic measures for lowering balloons, measures to combat smuggling, pressure on Belarus, from whose territory they enter Lithuania, and also assistance to citizens facing inconveniences. People's safety remains the highest priority," I. Ruginienė wrote on Facebook.

According to the Prime Minister, the agreed measures and actions of the institutions include the following:

• Contraband shipments transported by air will be able to be intercepted by kinetic means, taking into account the situation and risks;
• The Lithuanian Police and the State Border Guard Service are mobilizing a joint investigation group that will operate in accordance with a coordinated action plan to combat smuggling;
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with EU partners, will coordinate an additional package of sanctions against Belarus, as well as initiate the activation of the EU Hybrid Fusion Response Team;
• A decision is expected to be made to close the border with Belarus for an indefinite period (exceptions apply to Lithuanian and EU citizens traveling from Belarus to Lithuania);
• It is proposed to expand the application of criminal liability for the illegal disposal of low-value excise goods when aircraft (drones) or meteorological balloons are used for transportation, posing a threat to public safety;
• The Ministry of Transport has initiated special bus trips for passengers in Lithuania who assistance is needed when traveling from one airport in the country to another;
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will launch a helpline for Lithuanian citizens abroad whose return is disrupted due to incidents of this nature.

"We are acting decisively and purposefully. While institutions and services are conducting constant monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the measures applied, additional solutions are not ruled out in the future," wrote I. Ruginienė.

Airport operations were disrupted

ELTA reminds that last week, contraband weather balloons from Belarus were detected four times in Lithuania.

Recently, Vilnius Airport has been repeatedly suspended due to weather balloons being used for smuggling. Such incidents were recorded on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

In response to the situation, the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossings with Belarus were also temporarily closed.

For its part, the Presidential Office says that in order to control the situation, it may consider restricting transit to Kaliningrad and closing the border with Belarus for a longer period.