Stranded Lithuanian trucks ordered to proceed to parking lots at four checkpoints
November 10, Pozirk. More than 1,100 Lithuanian trucks stranded in Belarus will be parked at guarded parking lots near checkpoints until Lithuania opens the border with Belarus, the Belarusian State Customs Committee has announced.
The trucks will be parked near the Kamienny Loh-Medininkai, Bieniakoni-Šalčininkai and Katłoŭka-Lavoriškes crossings at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border and Bierastavica-Babrowniki crossing at the Belarusian-Polish border.
Belarus’ State Border Committee suspended the processing of outbound trucks with Lithuanian license plates at 9 a.m. on November 10, instructing the vehicles to proceed to designated parking areas.
The move marks a new escalation in the standoff between the two countries after Lithuania closed its border with Belarus last month, citing an influx of weather balloons used to smuggle cigarettes.
The Belarusian foreign ministry said that more than 1,100 Lithuanian trucks remain stranded in Belarus. The authorities have directed the vehicles to secure parking lots near the Katłoŭka–Lavoriškės checkpoint, which Vilnius has kept closed since March 2024. Minsk advised drivers to return home and stay there until Lithuania reopens the border.
Belarus described the Lithuanian decision as “a politicized and ill-considered move” that has caused significant losses for transport companies.
Last week, Minsk signaled that it would not permit the stranded Lithuanian trucks to leave Belarus until Vilnius reopens the border.
In late October, Lithuania closed the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border crossings — the only two remaining checkpoints handling all cross-border traffic between the countries — citing the surge of cigarette-smuggling balloons.
“Many drivers have been living in their truck cabins for a week, unable to return to Lithuania or continue their work,” the LINAVA National Association of Road Carriers reported.
Minsk has also banned Lithuanian trucks from entering Poland and Latvia, insisting that they use only Lithuanian checkpoints.
According to LINAVA, transport companies could lose around €70 million this month, and the disruption may last even longer.
Belarus sends stranded trucks to Katłoŭka parking lots, advises drivers to go home
- PoliticsŁukašenka orders coins to commemorate All-Belarusian People’s AssemblyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCentral bank cuts estimated values of standard riskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus to raise labor pensions on September 1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia release 10 return prisoners each in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SecurityBelarus testing artillery, command-chain readiness using lessons from Ukraine, IranThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka notes plunge in trade with Russia's Arkhangelsk provinceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyLithuania intercepts two drones carrying Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Belarusians stand with Ukraine, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka greets Ukrainians on Independence Day, predicts restoration of “friendly bonds”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEDB says Belarus’ economic growth this year may exceed its forecastThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyForest fire spreads from Ukraine into BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarusian troops practice assault operations in joint exercise in ChinaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolice arrest suspected jewelry store robberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Society
- Politics, Society
- PoliticsInstances of political persecution reported on August 21The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus declares Polish Catholic website extremist contentThe material is available only to POZIRK+



