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Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings Sunday after suspected helium balloons, linked to cigarette smuggling, entered its airspace—the fourth such disruption this week, with officials blaming Belarus for inaction.
Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings on Sunday after several objects, identified as likely helium balloons, entered its airspace. (Representative Image)
UPDATED: Oct 27, 2025 04:36 IST
NATO member Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings on Sunday after several objects, identified as likely helium balloons, entered its airspace, the Crisis Management Centre said, the fourth such incident this week.
Lithuania has said balloons are sent by smugglers transporting contraband cigarettes, but it also blames Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, for not stopping the practice.
Traffic at the capital airport was suspended until 2340 GMT, while the Belarus border will remain shut pending a meeting of Lithuania's Security Commission on Monday, officials said.
The Vilnius airport also closed on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of this week, as well as on October 5, each time due to balloons entering the capital's airspace, authorities have said.
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Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Oct 27, 2025
