Threat from Belarus: Lithuania strengthens air control and boosts air defense
Illustrative photo: Lithuania strengthens control over its airspace (Lietuvos policija)
Lithuanian authorities are tightening security measures in response to repeated airspace intrusions, according to the Lithuanian news outlet Delfi.
Acting defense minister Vladyslav Kondratovich announced tighter airspace control measures following a series of unidentified object incursions into Lithuanian territory, aiming to minimize security risks.
Strengthened airspace monitoring
According to Kondratovich, the police and the army will intensify cooperation to prevent the entry of aerial objects launched from Belarus. If such objects are detected, the affected zones will be immediately closed.
"Once a flying object is spotted in Lithuanian airspace, the respective area can be shut down. The country is divided into 24 zones, so within ten minutes we can close a specific zone and take necessary action," he said.
The minister did not reveal operational details, citing national security concerns and the need to avoid disclosing information to potential adversaries.
Use of air defense and intelligence assets
Kondratovich noted that Lithuania is employing elements of air defense and intelligence systems to ensure a rapid response to potential threats, though no direct military actions near the border are planned.
"We can deploy certain air defense and intelligence elements to achieve quick results. But if you imagine we’ll put a cannon on the border and start shooting, that won’t happen," he emphasized.
Incidents with balloons
As Reuters reported, Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed on Sunday after several objects, believed to be helium balloons, were detected in its airspace. This was the fourth such incident within a week.
Lithuanian authorities link the appearance of these balloons to smuggling operations involving cigarettes, but also accuse the Lukashenko regime of allowing the use of Belarusian airspace for such activities.
Context
Lithuania’s armed forces recently received their first UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the United States, significantly enhancing the country’s operational mobility and defense capabilities.
In addition, Ukraine and Lithuania signed a memorandum on expanding cooperation in the protection of critical infrastructure, with the document endorsed by Ukraine’s State Service for Special Communications and the Lithuanian government office.
