Belarus has banned trucks and tractor units registered in Poland and Lithuania from operating on its territory until the end of 2027, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded at the border. The decree, signed by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko on October 31st, escalates tensions that began after Poland and Lithuania tightened border controls in September following joint Belarus-Russia military exercises.
According to the Belarusian State Border Committee, over 2,000 trucks were waiting at Polish crossings and more than 1,260 at Lithuanian crossings on Monday. The ban is seen as a retaliatory measure after Lithuania temporarily closed its border in response to repeated disruptions at Vilnius Airport caused by balloons from Belarus.
Last week, Lithuania’s two Belarus border crossings were closed for several hours after dozens of helium-filled weather balloons entered the country, suspected of being used to smuggle cigarettes.
Povilas Drižas, secretary general of the International Transport and Logistics Alliance (TTLA), said the situation threatens Lithuania’s trade with Asia and could push Lithuanian haulers out of the market entirely, potentially costing the sector around €1 billion in annual revenue. He added that no resolution is yet in sight, and companies are unsure how to recover stranded assets. Oleg Tarasov, vice president of the National Road Carriers’ Association Linava, described the situation as nearly catastrophic.
Despite the ban, some movement continues. Lithuanian border officials report that trucks eligible under government exemptions are returning, alongside passenger vehicles. However, the Belarusian authorities have not provided official information regarding the new restrictions.
