"Lithuania closed its two biggest airports on Friday and shut crossings on its border with Belarus after helium weather balloons drifted into its territory, the third such occurrence in the Baltic state this month. European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in recent weeks by drone sightings and other air incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region."
"Lithuania, a European Union member, has said smugglers use the balloons to send Belarusian cigarettes into the EU, where tobacco products are more expensive. Vilnius blamed the Belarus president, Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, for not stopping the practice. The national security commission will meet next week to assess what can be done short-term that would be painful to the smugglers and to Lukashenko's regime, which allows them to thrive, Lithuania's prime minister, Inga Ruginiene, said in a statement."
Helium weather balloons drifted into Lithuanian territory multiple times this month, forcing temporary closures of Vilnius and Kaunas airports and the shutdown of border crossings with Belarus. Radar detected tens of balloons during the most recent incident, and officials say 966 entered Lithuania last year with more than 500 so far this year; Poland recorded over 100 similar incidents. Authorities say smugglers use the balloons to send Belarusian cigarettes into the EU and blame Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko for allowing the practice. Lithuania's national security commission will consider short-term measures to hurt smugglers and Lukashenko's regime. Two Russian military planes also entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting NATO jet scrambles.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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