EU countries bordering Belarus have for years accused Minsk of conducting hybrid warfare through tactics such as irregular migration, arbitrary arrests and smuggling. Despite border fences and closures, contraband continues to enter the EU using new methods. Baltic countries are now asking the EU and NATO for assistance.
The latest problem for Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland is the appearance of weather balloons launched from Belarus that drift across the border at night. Lithuania has been most affected, with several temporary closures of Vilnius airport, most recently in late January.
Lithuanian officials say Belarus is actively enabling the operation. The balloons can fly at altitudes of up to 8,000 meters and carry around 40 kilograms of cigarettes, making interception impossible. Fitted with GPS trackers, the cargo is later collected in forests, fields, or even urban areas.
Although the amount of smuggled cigarettes is relatively small, authorities say the balloon operations consume significant security resources and pose serious challenges.
