Lithuania’s Vilnius airport has been closed again due to suspicious balloons, with the country describing the incidents as a hybrid attack by Belarus that threatens aviation security.
On Saturday, Lithuania again had to close the airport in Vilnius, over which suspicious balloons appeared. The government’s National Crisis Management Center said that air traffic was restored on Saturday at 18:31 CET, Sky News reported, writes TASR.
- Lithuania closes Vilnius airport due to suspicious balloons.
- The airport has been closed several times since the beginning of October.
- The incidents are considered hybrid attacks by Belarus.
- Belarusian President Lukashenko rejects his country’s participation.
- Airspace violations were also experienced by Poland, Estonia and Romania.
Vilnius airport is located 30 kilometers from the border with Belarus and has been closed more than ten times since the beginning of October due to similar incidents. Thousands of passengers were also stranded at the airport earlier this week after it was closed following several balloon sightings.
Hybrid attack
Lithuania considers the incidents part of a coordinated campaign by cigarette smugglers and a “hybrid attack” by Russia’s ally Belarus.
In previous incidents, at least 60 balloons were observed in Lithuanian airspace, 40 of which also hit areas important for aviation safety. “This is a cynical hybrid attack against our economy, aviation security and the entire country,” State Secretary of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taurimas Valys said at the time.
Belarusian reaction
In October, Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center (NCMC) said that the construction of a physical barrier along the Belarusian border had made it difficult to use traditional smuggling routes, which in turn had led to the use of balloons and drones.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said some time ago that Belarus would apologize if his country’s involvement in the incidents in Lithuania was proven.
Violation of airspace
In recent weeks, cases of violation of their airspace have also been reported by Poland, Estonia and Romania, which accused Russia of “hybrid war”. Russia strongly rejected these claims. Vladimir Putin sparked fears this week when he said Russia was “ready for war” with Europe.
