Vilnius Airport in Lithuania halted flight operations for the second time on Wednesday after suspected balloons were detected in its airspace, airport authorities said. The country has witnessed repeated disruptions in recent months due to similar sightings. Officials claim the balloons are used by smugglers transporting cigarettes from neighbouring Belarus.

Lithuanian authorities have also accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of allowing the activity to continue, calling it a “hybrid attack.” Belarus, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly denied such claims, instead accusing Western nations of waging a hybrid war against Belarus and Russia.

Vilnius Airport, located roughly 30 kilometres from the Belarus border, has been forced to suspend operations more than ten times since early October because of balloon-related incidents. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the disruptions affect both security and passenger travel.

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