Third tunnel from Belarus found under Lithuania's border
Photo: A new tunnel was dug from Belarus into Lithuania (Getty Images)
Another unfinished underground tunnel has been discovered on the border with Belarus, where it may have been dug to facilitate illegal border crossings, according to LRT.
What is known about the tunnel
Lithuanian border guards discovered an underground passage near the village of Latežeris that had been dug beneath the physical border barrier at a depth of about 1.5 meters.
Reinforced with logs and wooden planks, the tunnel extended about four meters from Belarusian territory into Lithuania. Its entrance on the Belarusian side was concealed with camouflage fabric.
Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service noted that the tunnel was unfinished and did not cross the state border, so migrants or other individuals were unable to use it.
After investigators completed procedural actions, the tunnel was filled in with soil. A pre-trial investigation has been launched, and those responsible could face up to two years in prison.
Situation on the Lithuania-Belarus border
The latest discovery marks the third tunnel found by officers from Lithuania's Varėna Border Guard Unit in recent weeks.
On July 23, authorities found an unfinished five-meter tunnel near the village of Piesčiai. Just three days later, on July 26, another 11-meter underground passage, containing construction materials and buckets, was discovered near the village of Pertakas.
Since the beginning of the year, Lithuania's border service has recorded 12 attempts to enter the country illegally by digging underground tunnels from Belarus.
Border security and sanctions
The situation along the Belarusian border remains tense amid ongoing security challenges.
NATO has previously said it would intervene and deploy additional forces to Lithuania if Russian provocations in the region caused a critical situation.
Meanwhile, the Baltic states continue to increase legislative pressure on Russia and Belarus.
In Lithuania, lawmakers have proposed extending sanctions against Russian and Belarusian nationals through the end of 2027, while the European Union is considering extending the restrictions until 2028.
