Lithuania shuts border with Belarus after another balloon sighting over Vilnuis airport

Lithuania's key airport also closed on Tuesday and Friday, and on October 5, due to balloons entering the capital's airspace

Published on: Oct 26, 2025, 08:27:20 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Lithuania announced it has closed its Vilnius airport on Saturday over balloon sightings. The NATO member state also announced it will be closing its border with Belarus after helium weather balloons drifted into its airspace for a second consecutive day.

The NATO member state also announced it will be closing its border with Belarus after helium weather balloons drifted into its airspace for a second consecutive day. (Unsplash/Representative)

As per a Reuters report, officials stated that the traffic at Vilnius Airport and the crossing at the border with Belarus were suspended till 2 am local time.

Before Saturday's closure, Lithuania's key airport also closed on Tuesday and Friday, and on October 5, due to balloons entering the capital's airspace, authorities told media.

As per Lithuania, the balloons are sent by smugglers transporting contraband cigarettes. However, the country has also blamed Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia and Vladimir Putin, for not stopping the practice, despite repeated flagging.

Tensions brew in Europe over balloon, drone sightings

Along with Lithuania, several other European and NATO nations have scrambled to shut their airspace and suspend flight operations as the war in Ukraine rages on.

Last week, Germany's Munich Airport was shut after several drones were sighted in the vicinity of and on the grounds of Munich Airport.

"The state police immediately launched extensive search operations with a large number of officers in the vicinity of the airport. At the same time, the federal police immediately carried out surveillance and search operations on the airport grounds. However, it has not yet been possible to identify the perpetrator," read the official statement issued by the airport authorities.

Last month, Denmark, Norway and Sweden rushed to shut down their airports after multiple drones were sighted in their respective airspace. While the origin of the drones were not stated, speculations of Russian threats grew.

Furthermore, these drone sightings came after Poland shut its airspace and border with Belarus after multiple Russian drones violated its airspace and were downed by the Polish armed forced.

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.