On the night of 27 January 2026, Lithuanian officials reported the most intense wave of smuggler balloons launched from Belarus this year, with 42 balloon flights detected on radar overnight—far exceeding any previous incidents. Vilnius International Airport was forced to close multiple times, disrupting travel for more than 1,700 passengers. By morning, eight balloons were found, four people detained, and remains of other balloons discovered. Law enforcement deployed significant resources to prevent further smuggling attempts. Authorities suspect the surge in activity occurred with the knowledge of the Belarusian regime. Separately, a smuggler balloon carrying contraband cigarettes landed in central Vilnius, where an attempted cargo pickup injured a police officer. Officers seized 1,500 packs of cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps at the site. Lithuanian politicians consider these incursions a form of hybrid attack by Minsk. This followed previous disruptions at Vilnius Airport and declarations of emergency by the Lithuanian government last December due to balloon-based smuggling threats to civil aviation.

On the night of 27 January 2026, Lithuanian officials reported the most intense wave of smuggler balloons launched from Belarus this year, with 42 balloon flights detected on radar overnight—far exceeding any previous incidents. Vilnius International Airport was forced to close multiple times, disrupting travel for more than 1,700 passengers. By morning, eight balloons were found, four people detained, and remains of other balloons discovered. Law enforcement deployed significant resources to prevent further smuggling attempts. Authorities suspect the surge in activity occurred with the knowledge of the Belarusian regime. Separately, a smuggler balloon carrying contraband cigarettes landed in central Vilnius, where an attempted cargo pickup injured a police officer. Officers seized 1,500 packs of cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps at the site. Lithuanian politicians consider these incursions a form of hybrid attack by Minsk. This followed previous disruptions at Vilnius Airport and declarations of emergency by the Lithuanian government last December due to balloon-based smuggling threats to civil aviation.