In an interview with the state-owned Belarusian Telegraph Agency, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that he allowed the balloons to fly to Lithuania because Europe has sanctioned Belarus. The Belarusian leader said that the incident involved Lithuanians who were smuggling cigarettes from Belarus to Lithuania because cigarettes in Belarus are cheaper.
Lithuania closed its border with Belarus in response to the incursions. The balloon incursions led to the temporally suspensions of flights in Vilnius Airport.
Russian disruptions of European airports via drones and other methods have increased in the past few weeks and months. The actions form part of a series of escalatory actions by Russia against Europe.
Newsroom
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