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Authorities have decided to shoot down aerial devices transporting contraband tobacco across the border, its prime minister has warned.

This action responds after unauthorized aerial incursions disrupted air traffic repeatedly in recent days, including at the weekend, accompanied by temporary closures of cross-border movement during each incident.

Border checkpoints will now be closed indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "our nation stands prepared to implement the strictest possible measures against airspace violations."

National Security Actions

Outlining the strategy to media, officials stated defense units were executing "all necessary measures" to intercept unauthorized devices.

Regarding frontier restrictions, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel across the international border, while European Union nationals and Lithuanian residents retain entry rights, but no other movement will be allowed.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation stating that asymmetric operations face opposition here, and we will take all the strictest measures to stop such attacks," government officials declared.

Official communications saw no quick answer from Belarus.

International Consultation

Lithuania plans to consult its allies about the security challenges presented and may discuss activating the alliance's consultation mechanism - a request for consultation by a Nato member country about national security issues, especially related to its security - she added.

Travel Impacts

Lithuanian airports were closed three times over the weekend because of aerial devices crossing the international border, disrupting air transport and passenger movement, according to Baltic News Service.

Earlier this month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, resulting in numerous canceled flights and passenger inconveniences, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre told the BBC.

The phenomenon is not new: by autumn measurements, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from neighboring territory during current year, per government spokesperson comments, while 966 were recorded last year.

Regional Situation

Additional aviation facilities - including in Copenhagen and Munich - faced comparable aviation security challenges, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent weeks.