EU Prepares New Sanctions on Belarus Over 'Hybrid Airspace Attacks' on Lithuania

EU Condemns 'Hybrid Attack' by Belarus

The European Union is set to impose further sanctions on Belarus in response to what it describes as a 'hybrid attack' involving repeated airspace incursions by balloons over Lithuania. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the move following discussions with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on December 1. Von der Leyen stated on X that 'The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania's airspace. Such hybrid attack by the (Lukashenko) regime is completely unacceptable. Lithuania continues to have our full solidarity.' She added, 'We are preparing further measures under our sanctions regime.'

These incidents have led to significant disruptions at Lithuanian airports, particularly Vilnius International Airport, which has been forced to suspend operations multiple times.

Repeated Airspace Incursions and Their Impact

The most recent major incident occurred on November 30, when Vilnius International Airport suspended operations for 11 hours after unidentified objects, believed to be balloons, were detected in nearby airspace. Authorities extended airspace restrictions until December 1. Saulius Batavičius, director of Oro navigacija, Lithuania's air navigation service, reported that approximately 60 balloons were detected during this shutdown, with 40 entering high-risk areas. He emphasized that 'The balloons were launched at specific intervals so they would remain constantly in areas critical for aircraft approaching Vilnius Airport,' characterizing it as a 'systemic attack against civil aviation.'

Over the past two months, Vilnius Airport alone has faced 13 separate airspace restrictions due to these balloon incursions. These disruptions have affected roughly 320 flights and impacted over 45,000 passengers. Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) has estimated financial losses exceeding 750,000 euros ($870,000) for the airport operator and its partners. Many of these balloons are believed to be carrying illegal cigarettes, indicating a link to contraband smuggling.

Lithuania's Response and Calls for Action

In response to the escalating situation, Lithuania has taken several steps. The country temporarily closed some border checkpoints with Belarus in October, though they were reopened on November 20. However, the option to reinstate closures 'remains on the table' if the situation deteriorates. Lithuania's Prosecutor General, Nida Grunskienė, initiated a pre-trial investigation on December 1 into the incidents under Article 118, Part 1 of the Lithuanian Criminal Code, which pertains to 'Assisting another state in acts against the Republic of Lithuania.'

Furthermore, Lithuania intends to appeal to international judicial bodies, including the International Court of Justice, to hold the Belarusian regime accountable for damages and threats to civil aviation. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has called for targeted EU sanctions on Belarus's fertilizer imports and aviation industry, seeking to expand existing restrictions.

Existing EU Sanctions and Future Measures

The EU already has a comprehensive sanctions regime against Belarus, which has been in place since 2004 and significantly expanded following the fraudulent 2020 presidential elections and Belarus's complicity in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Current sanctions include:

• An arms embargo
• A ban on the overflight of EU airspace and access to EU airports by Belarusian airlines
• Restrictions on dual-use goods and technology
• Sectoral sanctions targeting key Belarusian industries such as potassium chloride ('potash'), wood, cement, iron, and steel products
• Import restrictions on gold and diamonds
• Prohibitions on the provision of certain business services

The new measures being prepared are expected to further align with sanctions against Russia to prevent circumvention and address the evolving nature of hybrid threats emanating from Belarusian territory. Meanwhile, Belarus's Foreign Ministry has made counter-claims, alleging a drone from Lithuania crashed in Hrodna carrying 'extremist' materials and summoning a Lithuanian envoy over the incident.