Polish police reported three balloons carrying packages landed in Białystok on the morning of March 18th, prompting a public safety appeal.
Balloons from Belarus in Poland
Authorities have previously reported objects entering Polish territory from neighboring countries. Reports surfaced on December 24th of dozens of objects entering Polish airspace from Belarus, suspected to be smuggling balloons.
Police Secured Balloons in Multiple Regions
Police secured seven balloons at that time, four in the Podlaskie Voivodeship and three in the Lubelskie Voivodeship.
Smuggling Profits Linked to Belarusian Leadership
Nearly all profits from balloon-based cigarette smuggling are believed to be directed to Lukashenko and his inner circle. Paweł Łatuszka, a Belarusian opposition leader, describes this as a special operation and a form of hybrid warfare.
Lithuania Deemed Balloons a Civil Security Threat
On December 9th, the Lithuanian government declared a nationwide state of emergency due to the threat to civil security posed by Belarusian balloons. Lithuanian authorities noted the balloons had been repeatedly entering civilian and military airspace, disrupting traffic and constituting a hybrid attack.
Frequent Airspace Intrusions in Lithuania
In 2023, Lithuania recorded over 600 instances of objects entering its airspace.