Lithuania declared a national emergency after Belarus-launched balloons repeatedly violated its airspace, disrupting airports and carrying contraband. Officials cite national security risks, human safety concerns, and potential hybrid warfare amid heightened NATO vigilance over Russian-linked airspace threats

Vilnius: Lithuania’s government on Tuesday declared a national emergency over security risks posed by balloons from Russia-allied Belarus that have violated its airspace in recent weeks.

Tensions between Lithuania and Belarus have escalated after meteorological balloons from Belarus forced Lithuania to repeatedly shut down its main airport in the past weeks, leaving thousands of people stranded.

In a statement, the government cited “national security interests” and “the danger” to

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