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Authorities have decided to intercept and destroy aerial devices transporting illicit goods from Belarus, government officials confirmed.

The measure comes after foreign objects crossing the border disrupted air traffic multiple times over the past week, including at the weekend, accompanied by temporary closures of Belarus border crossings temporarily each time.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely in response to the helium weather balloons.

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ maximum response protocols when our airspace is violated."

Official Measures

Outlining the strategy to media, the Prime Minister confirmed military forces were implementing "every required action" to eliminate aerial threats.

Regarding frontier restrictions, the Prime Minister confirmed diplomatic movement continues for cross-border diplomatic missions, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, however general movement continues suspended.

"Through these actions, we communicate to foreign authorities stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to stop such attacks," she said.

There has been no immediate response from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

The Baltic nation intends to coordinate with partners regarding the aerial device concerns with possible discussions about implementing the NATO consultation clause - a protocol allowing member state consultation about national security issues, particularly involving territorial protection - she added.

Airport Disruptions

National air facilities experienced triple closures over the weekend because of aerial devices originating from neighboring territory, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, according to Baltic News Service.

During the current month, several unauthorized objects traversed the border, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, according to emergency management officials.

The phenomenon is not new: through early October, 544 balloons were recorded entering Lithuania across the frontier in recent months, per government spokesperson comments, while 966 were recorded last year.

International Perspective

Additional aviation facilities - such as Scandinavian and German locations - experienced similar aerial disruptions, with unauthorized drone observations, over past months.