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Lithuania Closes Airspace Over Vilnius for Sixth Time After Suspected Belarus Balloons

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
News Writer
People with suitcases are seen in front of the airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, on October 28, 2025. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)
People with suitcases are seen in front of the airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, on October 28, 2025. Illustrative photo. (Source: Getty Images)

Lithuania temporarily closed its airspace over Vilnius late in the evening of October 30 after balloons were spotted in the sky near the capital's airport.

This was reported by Politico on October 30.

The restriction was in effect for about two and a half hours, from 20:10 to 22:43. At least two flights heading to Vilnius were forced to return to their departure airports. According to Politico, citing regional media outlets, this marks the sixth time air traffic has been halted in the country in the past month.

Lithuania has repeatedly accused Belarus of launching these balloons, which are suspected of being used for cigarette smuggling.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Minsk's alleged actions a “hybrid threat,” Politico reported.

Previously, following an emergency session of the National Security Commission on October 27, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene unveiled a firm response strategy. This plan includes the significant threat of permanently closing the border with Belarus and granting the military authorization to shoot down incoming aerial objects, such as balloons.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister stated that the military is now authorized to take “all necessary measures” to neutralize incoming air balloons, including the use of “kinetic means”—a term implying they will be shot down. Further details on the exact methods were not provided.

Earlier, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda reported that Russian military aircraft illegally entered Lithuanian airspace on October 27. He condemned the incident as a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.”

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