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Lithuania will begin to intercept and destroy aerial devices transporting contraband tobacco across the border, the country's leader announced.

The measure comes after foreign objects crossing the border forced Vilnius Airport to close on several occasions recently, affecting holiday travel, with the government also closing frontier checkpoints during these events.

Frontier crossing points remain suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing aerial incidents.

According to official declarations, "authorities will not hesitate to employ even the most severe actions when our airspace is violated."

National Security Actions

Detailing the measures during a briefing, Ruginiene said the army was taking "complete operational protocols" to eliminate aerial threats.

Regarding frontier restrictions, Ruginiene said diplomats will still be able to travel for cross-border diplomatic missions, with special provisions for EU and Lithuanian nationals, though all other travel remains prohibited.

"Through these actions, we communicate to the neighboring nation stating that asymmetric operations face opposition across our nation, employing comprehensive defensive actions to prevent similar incidents," she said.

Authorities received no prompt reaction from the neighboring government.

Alliance Coordination

Authorities will discuss with international allies regarding the aerial device concerns and may discuss activating the NATO consultation clause - a provision enabling alliance discussion regarding security matters, especially related to its security - officials noted.

Airport Disruptions

Lithuanian airports were closed three times during holiday periods from balloon incidents from Belarus, impacting over hundred flights and thousands of travelers, per transportation authority data.

During the current month, 25 balloons entered Lithuania from Belarus, leading to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, per national security agency reports.

These incidents continue previous patterns: through early October, numerous unauthorized objects tracked entering airspace from neighboring territory during current year, according to official statements, with nearly thousand incidents during previous year.

International Perspective

International air travel hubs - such as Scandinavian and German locations - have also been affected by air incursions, involving unmanned aerial vehicles, during current period.