Fri Oct 24 21:53:26 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
Headline: Lithuania Shuts Airports, Border After Helium Balloons Drift In, Blames Belarus
Vilnius, Lithuania – Lithuania has taken the drastic step of closing its two largest airports, Vilnius and Kaunas, and shutting down border crossings with Belarus after multiple incidents involving helium weather balloons drifting into its airspace. The closures, initiated on Friday and expected to last until Sunday in some cases, are a response to what authorities are calling a serious security concern.
This marks the third such incident this month, raising concerns about potential smuggling operations and possible provocations from neighboring Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Lithuanian officials suspect that the balloons are being used to transport contraband cigarettes, and Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has directly blamed the Belarusian regime of Alexander Lukashenko for allowing the practice to continue. A National Security Commission meeting is planned to discuss countermeasures against both smugglers and the Belarusian government.
Adding to the tension, the incident follows a recent incursion by two Russian military aircraft into Lithuanian airspace on Thursday. While Russia denies the violation, claiming the flights were conducted in compliance with international rules, Lithuania has condemned the incident as a “blatant breach of international law.” This violation follows similar incidents in Estonia and Poland in recent weeks and has heightened anxieties that Russia may be testing NATO’s defenses. The series of incidents, including drone sightings at other European airports, is putting the aviation industry on high alert.
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