European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that Belarus’s representative in Brussels had been summoned and that Belarus’ violation of Lithuanian airspace was a “hybrid attack” by Lukashenko’s government.
“The situation on the Belarusian border is deteriorating, with increasing numbers of smuggled balloons entering Lithuanian airspace,” von der Leyen said after a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Her comments came after Lithuania’s Vilnius Airport announced on Monday that “temporary airspace restrictions” had been introduced over the airport over the weekend due to “characteristic navigation signals of balloons moving in the direction of Vilnius Airport.”
European airports have been repeatedly disrupted by drone sightings in recent months, with Vilnius airport temporarily closed at least 10 times since early October, according to Reuters. Restrictions at Vilnius Airport were lifted on Monday, the airport announced in a statement.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kenstutis Budris said on Monday that Belarus was “deliberately targeting” Lithuanian airports, which had been subject to temporary restrictions several times in the last week alone, according to a statement posted on the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry website.
“On Sunday night alone, more than 7,400 passengers and 50 flights were affected by these restrictions, with 31 canceled, 10 diverted and nine delayed,” Badriz said.
CNN has contacted the Belarusian Foreign Ministry for comment.
Authorities said dozens of small hot air balloons entered Lithuanian airspace in October, some carrying smuggled cigarettes, but it was not clear at the time where the balloons came from.
Lithuania closed its border with Belarus at the end of October after “constant” airspace violations, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced. Belarus’ Foreign Ministry criticized the move, saying it violated the “principles of national rights and freedom of movement.”
EU foreign affairs and security policy spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said on Monday that EU diplomatic authorities summoned the Belarusian charge d’affaires to the EU to submit a demarch on “hybrid actions emanating from Belarusian territory.”
Mr Hipper said Belarus’ actions were a “threat to the EU”.
“Such hybrid attacks by the Lukashenko regime are completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen said on Monday. “We are preparing further measures under the sanctions regime.”
European countries have been on high alert following multiple incursions into NATO airspace by drones and aircraft in recent months. As a result, military alliances are increasing their presence in Eastern Europe.
In September, about 20 Russian drones entered Poland from Ukrainian territory, and NATO fighter jets scrambled to shoot them down. Russia said it did not intentionally fly the drone into the country.
Later that month, NATO announced that three Russian fighter jets had flown over NATO territory in Estonia. Moscow rejected this claim. Romania also claimed that Russian drones had violated Romanian airspace and accused Moscow of “irresponsible behavior.”
Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Luginiėne previously said the country’s military would take “all necessary measures” to shoot down the balloon, Reuters reported.
CNN’s Katherine Nichols and Nina Sabkumberdina contributed reporting.
