Balloon Disruptions: Vilnius Airport's Airspace Resumes

Vilnius Airport in Lithuania resumed operations after its airspace was closed due to balloons, believed to be used by smugglers from Belarus. This marks the latest incident in a pattern of air traffic disruptions linked to tactics allegedly orchestrated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Vilnius Airport in Lithuania has resumed operations after a disruptive incident involving stray balloons forced the closure of its airspace. The airport, located near the Belarusian border, reported air traffic restarted at 1731 GMT on Saturday.

This closure is the latest in a series of interruptions for the Baltic nation's air travel, tallying over ten such events since October. The airport's proximity to Belarus has made it a frequent target.

According to Lithuanian authorities, these balloons are deployed by smugglers carrying illicit cigarettes from Belarus. The government has also implicated Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for failing to curb what they describe as a 'hybrid attack'.