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The Baltic nation plans to eliminate helium balloons carrying cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, the country's leader announced.

This decision follows after unauthorized aerial incursions forced Vilnius Airport to close repeatedly in recent days, affecting holiday travel, with the government also closing cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures during unauthorized aerial intrusions."

Official Measures

Detailing the measures during a briefing, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

Regarding frontier restrictions, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues across the international border, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, but no other movement will be allowed.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to halt these operations," government officials declared.

There has been no immediate response from Minsk officials.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion on any issue of concern, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Travel Impacts

Lithuanian airports were closed three times over the weekend because of aerial devices crossing the international border, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, per national security agency reports.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: by autumn measurements, hundreds of aerial devices documented crossing borders from neighboring territory during current year, per government spokesperson comments, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

Regional Situation

International air travel hubs - including in Copenhagen and Munich - have also been affected by air incursions, with unauthorized drone observations, over past months.