On the night of January 27-28, 2026, Lithuanian authorities recorded the most intense wave this year of smuggler balloons launched from Belarus, with 42 flights detected on radar overnight. Vilnius Airport was forced to close repeatedly due to the balloon flights, disrupting travel for more than 1,700 passengers. By the following morning, authorities found eight smuggler balloons, detained four individuals, and discovered remnants of several balloons. Law enforcement and security services increased efforts to intercept smugglers. The surge in activity is suspected to have occurred with Belarusian regime knowledge. The airport was closed three times on January 27. Additionally, a smuggler balloon carrying a cargo of cigarettes landed in central Vilnius, resulting in an injury to a police officer when attempting to apprehend suspects. Lithuanian politicians have described these incursions as a hybrid attack by Minsk, and the Lithuanian government declared an emergency in mid-December 2025 due to similar balloon incursions threatening civil aviation.
Category: Military & Paramilitary Operations
Subcategory: Unconventional / Paramilitary
Incident Type: Cross-border raids
Country: Lithuania
Source report: www.lrt.lt/en/news-i…
