Inga Ruginiene says she is taking the "strictest measures" over the balloons, used to transport cigarettes from Belarus.

Lithuania accuses Belarus and Russia of a "deliberate escalation of hybrid warfare" as balloons shut down major airport.

Russian jets violated NATO airspace over Lithuania for 18 seconds during suspected refueling exercise. Nation's president calls it a breach of international law amid tensions.

For the third night in a row, Lithuania, one of NATO’s front-line member states, was forced to close its main airports after strange balloon from Belarus entered its airspace. Officials confirmed that Vilnius Airport had to suspend operations late Sunday night,