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The Baltic nation plans to shoot down helium balloons carrying cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus, its prime minister has warned.

The measure comes after unauthorized aerial incursions necessitated airport closures on several occasions recently, affecting holiday travel, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "we are ready to take maximum response protocols when our airspace is violated."

Official Measures

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "complete operational protocols" to shoot down balloons.

About the border closure, officials noted embassy personnel maintain access for cross-border diplomatic missions, and EU citizens and Lithuanians can enter from Belarus, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"This represents our clear message to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to halt these operations," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Official communications saw no quick answer from Belarus.

Diplomatic Measures

Authorities will discuss with international allies about the security challenges presented while potentially considering invocation of the NATO consultation clause - a request for consultation by a Nato member country on any issue of concern, especially related to its security - the Prime Minister concluded.

Travel Impacts

Aviation hubs faced multiple shutdowns over the weekend because of aerial devices 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, causing dozens of flight disruptions impacting thousands, per national security agency reports.

This situation represents ongoing challenges: as of 6 October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from Belarus this year, according to official statements, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

International Perspective

Additional aviation facilities - such as Scandinavian and German locations - faced comparable aviation security challenges, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, during current period.