Фото: VSAT
Lithuania has closed the Medininkai and Šalčininkai border checkpoints with Belarus as of 21:30 on October 24. Crossing by vehicles and pedestrians is suspended.
“This is a security measure aimed at ensuring Lithuania’s safety, related to weather balloons launched from Belarusian territory on Friday evening,” the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service said.
This is the second time this week that Lithuania has closed border crossings with Belarus due to meteorological balloons coming from the neighboring country. Earlier, on the night of Wednesday, the border was closed from 2:30 to 9:00. Lithuania has said it is ready to close the border for an extended period if the situation with the balloons recurs. Belarus was handed a note of protest.
Updated
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said the border checkpoints would remain closed until 12:00 on October 25. According to her, a “large group of meteorological balloons” had been launched from Belarus into Lithuania.