Lithuania accused Russian ally Belarus on Monday of hitting it with a “hybrid attack” after dozens of balloons loaded with contraband forced it to temporarily close airports last week.
Lithuania, a NATO and European Union member, also shut its last two border crossings with neighbouring Belarus over the incident, which forced the airports in the capital Vilnius and the south-central city Kaunas to close because of balloons carrying illegal cigarettes — a tactic often blamed on Belarusian smugglers.
“We consider this a hybrid attack,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene told journalists, saying a lack of action by Belarus to detain those responsible for the balloons led her to believe the authorities were involved.
Many European nations say “hybrid attacks” — a novel form of largely unconventional warfare — have soared recently, blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government for a surge in drone incursions, online attacks and other disruptive incidents.
Ruginiene called the border closure a “message” to Russian ally Belarus that “hybrid attacks will not be tolerated.”
The Lithuanian army has now been authorised to shoot down such balloons, she added.
Lithuania said it would decide on Wednesday how long to impose the border closure.
Black-market tobacco is a revenue source for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s government, according to the Belarus opposition.
Several people were arrested in Lithuania after trying to recover the cigarettes loaded on the balloons in last week’s incident, which forced airport closures overnight Tuesday to Wednesday.
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov rejected Lithuania’s accusations, calling them a “provocation” aimed at justifying “measures against Belarus (and) against Russia”.
Belarus summoned the Lithuanian embassy’s charge d’affaires in protest.
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