Lithuanian border guards detained 38 migrants who dug a tunnel under the Belarus border fence and sent them back, with Belarusian officials allegedly aware. This incident is linked to a broader hybrid warfare migration crisis on NATO's eastern flank.

Lithuanian border guards detained 38 migrants (36 men and 2 women) who dug a tunnel beneath the Lithuania-Belarus border fence in the southeastern Šalčininkai district. The group emerged from the tunnel on Monday night and attempted to disappear into the forest before being located and detained in a large-scale search involving helicopter, drones, and tracking dogs. Most migrants identified as Afghan nationals, two claimed Iranian citizenship without documents. Only 23 migrants carried documents. Humanitarian aid was offered to the migrants but accepted by only four. The entire group was sent back to Belarus. Lithuanian border guards assert the tunnels were dug with the knowledge of Belarusian officials. The incident is part of a larger migration crisis on NATO's eastern flank since 2021, which Lithuania and Poland attribute to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's hybrid warfare strategy to destabilize the region. Lithuania reported 763 illegal crossing attempts from Belarus in 2026 so far.