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Lithuania will begin to intercept and destroy aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after balloons entering Lithuanian airspace disrupted air traffic multiple times over the past week, affecting holiday travel, while authorities suspended cross-border movement during each incident.

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

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."

Government Response

Outlining the strategy to media, Ruginiene said the army was taking "complete operational protocols" to eliminate aerial threats.

Regarding frontier restrictions, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues for cross-border diplomatic missions, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"Through these actions, we communicate to foreign authorities declaring that unconventional threats won't be accepted within our territory, and we'll implement maximum countermeasures to stop such attacks," the Prime Minister emphasized.

There has been no immediate response from Belarus.

Alliance Coordination

Authorities will discuss with international allies over the threat posed from the balloons with possible discussions about implementing the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, especially related to its security - officials noted.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns 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, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

These incidents continue previous patterns: by autumn measurements, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace across the frontier in recent months, according to official statements, compared to higher numbers in prior period.

European Context

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - experienced similar aerial disruptions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, during current period.