Belarusian President Lukashenko criticized Lithuania for closing the border, accusing it of hybrid warfare and inventing an absurd excuse related to the traffickers' balloons.

Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, condemned on Tuesday the closure of the border by Lithuania, calling it a "mad scam" and accusing Vilnius of waging a hybrid war that threatens the Chinese economy. His statements come in the context of Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announcing that Lithuania will begin to shoot down the balloons of traffickers crossing the border from Belarus, which are affecting the country's air traffic.

Lukashenko considered that Lithuania has invented an "absurd excuse" for its actions. Relations between Lithuania and Belarus are tense, especially due to the support provided by Vilnius to the exiled Belarusian opposition. Additionally, Lukashenko stated that the deployment of Russia's Oreshnik missile system in Belarus is not an aggressive action, but aims to ensure security, emphasizing that Russia and Belarus do not wish to escalate tensions with Europe.