Lithuania declares national emergency over security risks posed by balloons from Belarus

Lithuania’s government on Tuesday (December 9, 2025) declared a national emergency over security risks posed by meteorological balloons sent from Russia-allied Belarus that have violated its airspace in recent weeks, while the Belarusian leader called for negotiations on border tensions and said his country “does not need war.”

The balloons forced Lithuania to repeatedly shut down its main airport, stranding thousands of people, as Europe remains on alert over previous intrusions into NATO airspace during the war in Ukraine.

“In combating the Belarusian hybrid attack, we must take the strictest measures and defend the areas most affected by this attack,” Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said.

The announcement followed a Cabinet meeting of the Baltic state, which is a NATO member and strong backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces who launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The national emergency means the Army will be able to patrol the border area together with other uniformed services and receive extra rights from Parliament, such as to conduct searches or detain people.

The Government said the impact on civilians would be limited.

While the balloons are used to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania, officials in Vilnius see their numbers and trajectories as deliberate acts of disruption orchestrated by Belarus.

According to the Lithuanian government, the Vilnius international airport has been closed for more than 60 hours since October due to the threat posed to civil aviation, affecting over 350 flights and approximately 51,000 passengers.

Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said Lithuanian prosecutors launched an investigation into the balloons and the secret services would provide information about the connection with the Minsk regime.

“I have no information that the Belarusian side is trying to curb the senders of the balloons,” the Minister said. “And this is one of the proofs that this is a hybrid attack.”

In October, Lithuanian authorities closed two border crossings in response to the airspace violations.

Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko denounced Lithuania’s move to close the border as a “mad scam” and part of a “hybrid war” against his country. He suggested that Vilnius needs to combat smuggling of contraband.

Belarus wants talks

On Tuesday (December 9, 2025), Lukashenko denied accusations that Minsk was carrying out hybrid attacks on Lithuania and said the balloons could not harm civil aviation. Instead, the Belarusian leader accused Vilnius of “politicising” the problem.

He called for negotiations between Minsk and Vilnius. “If you want normal relations, sit down at the table and discuss these issues. We are ready to do that,” he said during a session of Belarus’ security council.

Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Sekreta also urged Vilnius to meet Minsk at the negotiating table. “For some reason, Lithuania perceives any contact at a political level with the Belarusian side as a defeat,” Mr. Sekreta said.

Lithuania, Poland and other European Union countries in the region in recent years have accused Belarus of other activity aimed at triggering instability, including with cyber attacks. They also accuse Minsk of directing a large influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa to their borders to create a migration crisis.