Lithuanian border guards seek permission to down balloons from Belarus

September 30, Pozirk. The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has formally asked the government for permission to use firearms to down balloons flying into the country from Belarus, lrt.lt reported.
SBGS head Rustamas Liubajevas submitted a proposal to that effect to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Intrusions from Belarus increased from 117 in August to 250 in September, he said. He was particularly concerned about hot air balloons used for smuggling cigarettes.
The move comes dais after a small uncontrolled balloon carrying 20 kilograms of contraband Belarusian cigarettes landed at Vilnius Airport.
According to Liubajevas, weather balloons gain altitude of 2–5 km, and Lithuanian border guards have no means of stopping them. The border guard chief added that such objects cannot be detected crossing the border.
Lithuanian MP Dainius Gaižauskas said last week that hundreds of balloons have been smuggling cargoes from Belarus to Lithuania for a year. One balloon can carry about 1,000 cigarette packs, he added.
Balloon with contraband Belarusian cigarettes falls at Vilnius airport
- Society, SportHigh jumper Žodzik among top six athletes rated by Polish sports expertsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolish president to meet Belarusian diaspora leadersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SecurityPoland extends restrictions on acceptance asylum requests for another 60 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyGeorgia expels five Belarusian men in nine months of 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLate journalist Miełkazioraŭ among outstanding figures honored by United Transitional CabinetThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLuxembourg, Latvia, Norway contributed €530,000 in 2025 to help Belarusian regime's victimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus seeks resumption of direct air services with TurkmenistanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyNuclear plant’s Unit 2 reconnected to grid after planned maintenanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityOfficials discussing paramilitary role for Financial Investigations DepartmentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityCol. Iljukievič appointed as commander of Special Operations ForcesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyLithuanian border guards detained 11 wanted Belarusians in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland prevents five attempts by undocumented migrants to cross border from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsInterior ministry labels 26 as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyPolish Border Guard reports four seizures of cigarettes flown in from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyContraband cigarette seizures in Lithuania tripled in 2025 – border guardsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyInterior minister orders deployment of heavy equipment for snow removalThe material is available only to POZIRK+



