Lithuania has announced plans to close its border with Belarus and shoot down any future balloons entering its airspace after 66 unidentified objects were detected overnight, forcing Vilnius Airport to close for the fourth time in a week.

Axar.az, citing The Guardian, reports that Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said the move aims to send a “clear signal” to Belarus that “no hybrid attack will be tolerated.” The closures, which disrupted over 170 flights and nearly 30,000 passengers last week, were prompted by balloons believed to be used for smuggling or psychological pressure orchestrated by Russia and Belarus.

Ruginienė also said Lithuania is not ruling out invoking NATO’s Article 4, which allows member states to call consultations when their security or territorial integrity is threatened.

Authorities described the repeated balloon incursions as part of a “hybrid psychological operation” designed to disrupt daily life in Lithuania.

Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Center confirmed the radar detected up to 66 objects on Sunday night, some weighing as much as 50–60 kg, posing serious risks to aircraft.