"Lithuania's prime minister has authorised the shooting down of smuggling balloons that cross the border from Russia's ally Belarus, calling them hybrid attacks in an echo of the term used to describe Moscow's destabilisation efforts. Incursions by balloons carrying contraband cigarettes prompted the Nato and EU member state to close Vilnius airport four times last week and shut its border crossings with Belarus temporarily. Today we have decided to take the strictest measures, there is no other way,"
"Vilnius has said the balloons are being sent by smugglers, but blames the authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, for not stopping them. Ruginiene told a press conference the incidents were hybrid attacks and announced the closure of Lithuania's Belarus border crossings except for travel by diplomats and by EU citizens leaving the neighbouring country."
Lithuania authorised shooting down smuggling balloons crossing from Belarus, labelling the incidents hybrid attacks. Balloons carrying contraband cigarettes forced closure of Vilnius airport four times and temporary shutdowns of Belarus border crossings. The government closed Belarus border crossings except for diplomats and EU citizens leaving Belarus. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said strict measures were necessary and that the government may discuss invoking NATO's Article 4 for security consultations. Lithuania blames smugglers and criticises Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for not stopping the launches. The defence ministry reported two Russian military planes briefly entered Lithuanian airspace, likely during aerial refuelling training.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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