EU calls Belarusian balloon incursion into Lithuanian airspace a 'hybrid attack'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that Belarusian incursions into the Lithuanian airspace are “hybrid attacks,” as Belarus’ representative in Brussels was summoned.

“The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace,” von der Leyen said, as she met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.

Lithuania’s airport shuts down

Her comments follow an announcement from Lithuania’s Vilnius airport on Monday that “temporary airspace restrictions” had been imposed over the weekend because of “navigation signals characteristic of balloons moving in the direction of Vilnius Airport.”

European airports have faced repeated disruptions in recent months due to drone sightings, with Vilnius airport forced to shut down temporarily at least 10 times since early October, according to Reuters. The airport said in a statement that the restrictions were lifted on Monday.

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Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said that Belarus is “deliberately targeting” the Lithuanian airport, forcing it to shut down several times last week. “Over 7,400 passengers and 50 flights were affected by these restrictions over Sunday night alone, with 31 flights cancelled, 10 diverted, and nine delayed,” Budrys said.

In October, authorities reported that dozens of small hot-air balloons had entered Lithuanian airspace, some carrying smuggled cigarettes, though it remained unclear where the balloons originated.

EU mulls sanctions

The EU is drawing up new sanctions against the government of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.  In turn, Belarus summoned a Lithuanian envoy for a dressing down over a drone crash, the latest in a swirl of diplomatic standoffs between the neighbouring post-Soviet states.

The EU has imposed repeated sanctions on Minsk since 2020 – including targeting Lukashenko and his family – for the brutal repression of dissent and support of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

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With inputs from agencies