{"id":191947,"date":"2026-06-15T22:58:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T19:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191947\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T23:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T20:01:35","slug":"lithuania-lodges-protest-with-belarus-over-recent-airspace-incursions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/191947\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania lodges protest with Belarus over recent airspace incursions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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June 15, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The Lithuanian foreign ministry has summoned a Belarusian diplomat today to express strong protest over airspace incursions from Belarus in May and June, its press office reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette-smuggling weather balloons and other unmanned aerial vehicles crossed into Lithuania from Belarus, with some directly threatening the security of civil aviation and leading to the suspension of the operations at Vilnius International Airport on June 7 and 8 June, it noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry said it \u201ccalled on Belarus to comply with its international obligations, ensure effective control of its airspace and take decisive measures to combat criminal activities organizing contraband.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling balloons have been rising since last October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to temporarily close the border and suspend operations at the airport in Vilnius, located close to the Belarusian border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early December 2025, Lithuanian authorities declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, in response to what they called \u201ca hybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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