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Lithuania Accuses Belarus of 'Cynical Hybrid Attack' as Balloons Disrupt Airport
- On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Belarusian incursions into Lithuania's airspace are a 'hybrid attack' by the Lukashenko regime, and the EU is preparing new sanctions against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
- In October, dozens of small hot-air balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes entered Lithuanian airspace, forcing Lithuania's Vilnius airport to impose temporary restrictions and close at least 10 times, disrupting over 7,400 passengers and 50 flights on one night.
- A ministry in Minsk said a UAV was found in Grodno on November 30 equipped with a camera and extremist materials, and Belarus said it was launched from Kapciamiestis in Lithuania.
- Lithuania says the October border shutdown left thousands of Lithuanian trucks trapped, and the EU's diplomatic service summoned Belarus's chargé d'affaires Monday over the 'unacceptable situation' and hybrid actions threatening the EU.
- The escalation comes amid a longer history of tensions and EU sanctions dating to 2020, with European nations on high alert after multiple incursions into NATO airspace in recent months.
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44 Articles
44 Articles
EU weighing sanctions on Belarus over alleged hybrid attacks disrupting Lithuania’s airspace
The latest incident occurred on Nov. 30, when Vilnius International Airport suspended operations after unidentified objects — believed to be balloons — appeared in nearby airspace.
·Kyiv, Ukraine
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The President of the European Commission announced new sanctions after several incursions into Lithuania's airspace.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources44
Leaning Left10Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 40%
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