Lithuania accuses Belarus, Russia of the deliberate escalation of hybrid warfare “as the balloons blocked the airport

The government of Lithuania, a member of the US-led NATO Alliance, said Monday it would begin shooting down unidentified balloons that entered the country’s Belarus, forcing the closure of its main airport.

Prime Minister Iga Rukwaene warned on Monday that any other balloons found would be shot down after an operation at Vilnius International Airport, which operated a total of four times last week.

“Today we have decided to take the most difficult measures,” there is no other way, according to the Lithuanian Public Bradister, according to the incidents “attacks of events” and to say that his country can discuss a joint attack of the agreement on the establishment of events.

Article 4 of 4 can be invoked by any NATO member who feels that its security is at risk, which will shape the talks between the partners to discuss the threat. Article 4 has been invoked nine times in NATO’s history, three of which related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Lithuania believes smugglers are using balloons to transport cigarettes across the border, but has criticized Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is close to Russia’s Putin, for not targeting them.

“Idleness is also in action,” said Rihlone after a meeting of his country’s Security Commission on Monday. “If Belarus has not done anything about it and is not fighting, and we evaluate these actions accordingly.”

Rukwanene added that his government will close its border with Belarus, without diplomas and returning European Union countries, according to LRT.

“This is how we send a signal to Belarus and say that no aggressive foresters will be tolerated here, we will take all the hard measures to stop such attacks,” he said.

“Our response will determine how far the autocrats dare to go,” Rukiniene’s office said in a statement posted later Monday to CBS News.

There was no immediate comment on the incident from officials in Belarus.

“Calculated calculation”

Many of America’s European Allies have breached their AirSpace in recent weeks, mostly with unmanned drones that have been damaged Airports and military bases in Germany, Denmark and the Baltic States. Estonia too The suspected fighter jets Flying through its airspace for 12 minutes in mid-September.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Monday in a post on social media that NATO is facing a war against Russia and its proxy, “a reduction designed to call space, distract and test NATO’s resolve.”

He called for more strikes against Belarus and stronger NATO security to prevent air strikes.

On October 23, Sufhoi Su-30 Fighter and IL-78 Planer Plane flew less than half a mile in the territory of Lithuania, according to the foreign ministry, after taking off from the Russian service in Kaliningrad. The Baltic Sea region is divided between the rest of Russia, and is bordered on two sides by Lithuania and Poland.

Two days before those “several weather” launched in Belarus were detected by Lithuanian radar systems at the country’s airports, disrupting traffic at the Vilnius airport, said Mnikazi.

Lithuania called the top belorussian plosomay in the country on October 22 to understand the “strong protest about the repetition” of its ongoing AirSpace, warning the right to take appropriate measures to retaliate. “

Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center said earlier this month that at least 544 balloons had already entered Lithuanian airspace this year, according to CBS News ‘Netner’ Partner ‘Network’ Netner ‘NetborT’ Partner ‘Netner’ Netbork ‘Network’ Partner ‘Network’ Network ‘Partner’ Netner ‘Netbork’ Netner ‘Netbork Network’ Network ‘Partner’ Network ‘Partner’ Network ‘Partner’ Netbork Network ‘Network’ Partner ‘Netner’ Netbork BBC Network. This agency said that 966 balloon insertions like this were recorded in the year 2024.

“Last year we were a blind chicken and didn’t see many things,” said Rikinine. “Thank God, there was no disaster. We didn’t see any moving objects, so there were no decisions to close the AirSpace.”

“Today we have better equipment, we can see more details,” he said, according to LRT. “We believe we need to take action to protect our citizens.”