FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Belarus, Russia's closest ally, is accused of putting pressure on NATO's eastern flank by sending balloons into Polish and Lithuanian airspace. The balloons, filled with helium or hydrogen, are not carrying explosives but packs of cigarettes, which are much cheaper in Belarus than in European Union countries.
According to authorities, the balloons are low-tech objects, slow-moving and difficult to detect. They fly at altitudes of several thousand meters, activating radars, triggering security alerts and leading to temporary closures of civilian airports.
Just last week, several incidents forced Poland and Lithuania to temporarily close their airspace. On January 27, Lithuanian authorities reported about 42 balloons launched from Belarus, causing repeated flight disruptions at Vilnius airport. A night later, Poland closed its airspace to civilian flights after “balloon-like objects” entered the country, described as part of hybrid activities on the country’s eastern borders.
Lithuania reports that it has recorded hundreds of such cases since the fall of 2025 and was forced to declare a nationwide state of emergency in December due to ongoing disruptions to air traffic. According to estimates, Belarus is suspected of sending around 600 balloons, mainly for cigarette smuggling, to Lithuania in 2025 alone.
Lini një Përgjigje