BRUSSELS: NATO voiced firm support for Lithuania Tuesday over what Vilnius condemned as a “hybrid attack” on its airspace by Russia’s ally Belarus, involving balloons filled with contraband cigarettes. The alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda about the incident, in which dozens of balloons forced the temporary closure of two airports last week. “NATO stands firmly with Lithuania — including through the air policing currently provided by Spain and Hungary as well as the NATO forces led by Germany,” Rutte wrote on X.

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions.

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions.

PM blames Alexander Lukashenko for not stopping ‘hybrid attacks’, which closed Vilnius airport four times last week

Lithuania says balloons disrupting air traffic are sent by smugglers transporting contraband cigarettes into the EU.

Lithuania will close its border with Belarus after smuggling balloons have continued to breach its airspace, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Monday.

BRUSSELS: NATO voiced firm support for Lithuania Tuesday over what Vilnius condemned as a “hybrid attack” on its airspace by Russia’s ally Belarus, involving balloons filled with…

VILNIUS: Lithuania said Wednesday it will keep the country’s border crossings with Belarus closed for a month after balloons used to smuggle cigarettes across the frontier caused…