CIS

Home page

CIS

EU weighing sanctions on Belarus over alleged hybrid attacks disrupting Lithuania’s airspace

02 December 2025 09:25 (UTC +04:00)

The European Union is preparing additional sanctions against the government of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in response to what Brussels describes as a "hybrid" campaign targeting Lithuania, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, APA reports, citing KYIV INDEPENDENT.

Lithuania has reported a spike in airspace incursions involving balloons carrying illegal cigarettes, prompting temporary shutdowns at several airports and pushing Vilnius to close its border with Belarus in October. The two countries share a 680-kilometer border.

Following discussions with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, von der Leyen wrote on X: "The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace. Such hybrid attack by Belarus is completely unacceptable. Lithuania continues to have our full solidarity."

"We are preparing further measures under our sanctions regime," she added.