Facing a wave of smuggled contraband weather balloons launched from Belarus, Lithuania declared a nationwide state of emergency on December 9, 2025. Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius was appointed to head government operations aimed at curbing this hybrid warfare tactic. The balloons disrupt civil aviation, causing repeated halts at Vilnius Airport and significant financial and reputational damage. The emergency decree focuses on targeting organizers and participants without burdening the general public. To strengthen response efforts, the government is deploying military units and has appealed to the Seimas for urgent expansion of military authority, allowing mandatory orders, detentions, inspections, and use of specialized military equipment, with powers to last three months. Citizens play an active role by reporting sightings. The government plans to review the continuation of the emergency after one month based on operational outcomes.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Unconventional / Paramilitary
Incident Type: Use of ‘little green men’ (unmarked soldiers)
Country: Lithuania
Source report: militarnyi.com/en/news/l…
