Lithuania on Tuesday declared a state of emergency after a series of unusual incidents involving weather balloons drifting in from Belarus. According to Lithuanian authorities, these balloons believed to be used by cigarette smugglers have been repeatedly disrupting air traffic and forcing temporary shutdowns at Vilnius Airport.

The situation has raised fresh security concerns across the region, especially because Lithuania is a NATO member and identifies Russia as its biggest threat. Belarus, meanwhile, is a close ally of Moscow and led by President Alexander Lukashenko, who is widely seen as a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Balloons Called A ‘Hybrid Attack’

Lithuanian officials said that the balloons have caused multiple interruptions in air operations, prompting safet

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