SMUGGLERS launching balloon swarms stashed with bootlegged cigarettes into Europe could be the latest tactic by Moscow in the escalating “hybrid war” on the West.
Launched from Vlad’s ally Belarus, smugglers are sending balloons across the border into Lithuania with more than a quick buck in mind.
Experts fear the balloons are tactically mapping weak spots in Nato’s eastern flank and are wreaking havoc on air traffic in a bid to sow even more chaos in the Europe Union.
Lithuanian officials told The Telegraph the balloon swarms are being carried out with the approval of Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator kept in power by Russia.
At least 550 balloons have been intercepted by Lithuanian authorities this year, but the true number is thought to be much higher, with only 28 percent of balloons shot down, according to local media.
Lithuanian border guards are instructed to shoot down the balloons when it’s safe to do so.
In October, Lithuania’s capital airport in Vilnius was forced to shut nine times due to balloon swarms, which have seemed to intensify in frequency.
The government previously retaliated against the swarms by closing its border with Belarus.
They can reach altitudes of 26,000 feet and carry up to 50kg of cargo. This week they reached Latvia for the first time.
For now, the balloons are mainly carrying contraband, but the worry is one day they will be fitted with spy cameras, incendiary devices or explosives, experts say.
“The Belarusian regime is responsible for what we are assessing as a hybrid attack aimed at disrupting activities of our government and society,” a Lithuanian official told The Telegraph.
Lukashenko is “fully aware” of the smugglers’ actions and has “little desire” to stop them, according to the official.
Read more:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37471881/putins-balloons-swarm-europe-smuggle-cigs-carry-bombs/The Sun brings you breaking news and in-depth analysis on the stories that matter most. From the ongoing war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East and US and UK politics, we post updates as they happen. Expect the latest on major global events, pressing political debates, celebrity updates and exclusive royal family content, along with in-depth investigations and expert commentary. Get comprehensive coverage of Donald Trump's Presidency, Vladimir Putin's actions, and the unfolding drama of the British Royal Family.
Subscribe now for daily updates and exclusive content from The Sun.
https://www.youtube.com/c/thesun?sub_confirmation=1👑 For the latest Royal news, subscribe to The Sun's Royal Exclusive YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoyalExclusiveTheSunRead The Sun:
https://bit.ly/3Tay1OYLike The Sun on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thesun/Follow The Sun on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thesunSubscribe to The Sun on Snapchat:
https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139#russia #viral #crime