Imagine an airport repeatedly shutting down, not because of weather or technical glitches, but due to… balloons. This isn’t a children’s party gone wrong; it’s a serious national security threat playing out in Lithuania, leading the country’s Prime Minister to announce a state of emergency next week.
Vilnius Airport, located just 19 miles from Belarus, has faced over ten closures since October. The culprit? Balloons drifting into its airspace. While seemingly innocuous, Lithuanian officials are convinced these aren’t accidental. They’re part of a deliberate “hybrid war” campaign orchestrated by Belarus, a close ally of Russia, to destabilize the region and test its neighbor.
These aren’t just decorative helium-filled objects. So far, over 500 balloons intercepted this year have contained contraband cigarettes and GPS trackers. But the fears go much deeper. Officials warn that future balloons could be weaponized with spy cameras, incendiary devices, or even explosives. More ominously, they suspect these aerial intrusions are helping Russia map out “weak spots” along NATO’s eastern border.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Inga Ruginienė, emphasized the need for emergency measures to protect civil safety. “If the situation worsens, we do not rule out the possibility of going further,” she stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Former officials are urging tougher EU action against Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, calling these incidents a direct challenge to Lithuania’s sovereignty that could spread.
In response, Lithuania has already fortified its border with Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave, installing concrete “dragon’s teeth” blocks. This isn’t a game; it’s a tense, escalating standoff on Europe’s eastern front, where even something as simple as a balloon can carry a chilling message.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2142807/ww3-fears-erupt-state-emergency-lithuania
