Vilnius, Lithuania: Traffic through Lithuania's border with Belarus reopened at noon on Saturday, more than 12 hours after a balloon intrusion led to a temporary suspension late Friday.
According to the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), checks and crossings for people and vehicles at the Medininkai and Salcininkai checkpoints have resumed.
Traffic at both checkpoints was halted around 930 p.m. (1830 GMT) on Friday following reports of some meteorological weather balloons flying towards Lithuanian airspace.
VSAT said that during the closure, no major incidents or conflicts were reported among waiting drivers near the checkpoints.
On Friday evening, head of National Crisis Management Center Vilmantas Vitkauskas said radar had detected around 80-90 balloon objects, roughly two to three times fewer than what was observed during a similar incident earlier this week.
According to VSAT Commander Rustamas Liubajevas, authorities have so far intercepted four balloons carrying contraband cigarettes. Following the first wave of balloon incursions earlier this week, the National Security Commission held a meeting to assess the situation.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene warned that if mass launches of contraband balloons from Belarus were to continue, Lithuania could consider a complete border closure with its eastern neighbor. Another meeting of the National Security Commission is scheduled for next Wednesday.
