Lithuania Declares State of Emergency Amid Escalating Drone and Balloon Threats from Belarus

On December 9, 2025, the Government of Lithuania officially enacted a nationwide state of emergency. This decisive action was prompted by a surge in unauthorized launches of contraband unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weather balloons originating from the territory of the Republic of Belarus. Lithuanian authorities have definitively categorized these incursions as a direct threat to national security and a clear component of a hybrid warfare campaign.

The scale of the intrusions this year has been substantial. Since the beginning of 2025, approximately 600 balloons and 200 drones have breached Lithuanian airspace. These incidents have caused significant disruption, leading to the postponement or rerouting of over 300 flights, which impacted roughly 47,000 passengers. Oversight for state operations during this emergency period has been assigned to the Minister of the Interior, Vladislav Kondratovich, who has held the post since late 2024. Officials emphasize that this elevated status will enable a more robust and coordinated response, allowing authorized agencies, including military units, to act swiftly to neutralize these threats.

The crisis involving these aerial devices first gained serious traction in October 2025. President Gitanas Nausėda characterized these repeated events as a calculated maneuver designed specifically to destabilize the situation within Lithuania. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who took office in September 2025, publicly labeled the incursions by the balloons as a 'hybrid attack' orchestrated by Minsk. The Ministry of the Interior has issued assurances to the public, confirming that all countermeasures implemented will be strictly proportionate and focused exclusively on dismantling the networks responsible for organizing these illicit activities.

The material and logistical fallout from these repeated violations has proven costly. For instance, the airspace above Vilnius Airport alone has been closed for more than 60 cumulative hours since the crisis began. A particularly severe incident on December 1, involving the launch of 60 UAVs, brought airport operations to a standstill for 11 hours, affecting over 7,400 travelers. Minister Kondratovich stated that the state of emergency status will undergo a formal review in one month, based on the effectiveness of ongoing anti-smuggling operations. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the Seimas of Lithuania had previously approved amendments on September 23, granting the military the authority to employ force when necessary to suppress aerial threats.

In parallel diplomatic efforts, Lithuanian officials have initiated discussions with their counterparts in the United States. The goal of these talks is to secure an official recognition of Belarus's actions concerning the meteorological balloons as acts of terrorism. Earlier in the crisis, the Lithuanian government had contemplated a month-long closure of the border with Belarus toward the end of October. However, that measure was ultimately postponed to ensure that Lithuanian citizens who were traveling abroad could safely return home.