Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 26, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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Lithuania closed Vilnius airport and Belarus border after helium balloons entered its airspace, marking the fourth such incident this week.
By Andrius Sytas
VILNIUS (Reuters) -NATO member Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings on Sunday after several objects, identified as likely helium balloons, entered its airspace, the National Crisis Management Centre said, the fourth such incident this week.
Lithuania has said balloons are sent by smugglers transporting contraband cigarettes, but it also blames Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, for not stopping the practice.
Traffic at the capital airport was suspended until 2340 GMT, while the Belarus border will remain shut pending a meeting of Lithuania's National Security Commission on Monday, officials said.
The Vilnius airport also closed on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of this week, as well as on October 5, each time due to balloons entering the capital's airspace, authorities have said.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik)
Airspace is the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its land and waters. It is regulated for safety and security, particularly for aircraft operations.
Contraband refers to goods that are illegal to import or export. This can include items that are prohibited by law, such as drugs, weapons, or stolen property.
A border crossing is a designated location where individuals can legally enter or exit a country. It often involves customs checks and immigration controls.
Helium balloons are often used for entertainment, decoration, and scientific purposes. In this context, they are reportedly used by smugglers to transport illicit goods.
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