According to state news agency, President Lukashenko said that Lithuania had disseminated false information about the frequency of dense airinfrastructure encroachment by hot air balloons from Belarus.
This is just a funny excuse, the Belarus leader told reporters in an interview.
Mr. Lukashenko noted that Belarus' deployment of Russia's Oreshnik missile system in its territory is "not aggressive", all for the purpose of ensuring national security and safety.
Mr. Lukashenko added that Russia and Belarus are not interested in escalating tensions with Europe.
Previously, on October 27, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry announced the closure of the border with Belarus following "continuous violations" of the country's airspace.
According to Prime Minister Lithuania Inga Ruginiene, "dozens of heli gas hot air balloons" from Belarus have entered Lithuania's airspace in recent days.
Ms. Ruginiene said that this is a move to challenge the resilience of the European Union (EU) and NATO to mixed threats and called for a "unified and resolute response" to airspace violations.
The female Prime Minister stressed that the Lithuanian armed forces will take "all necessary measures" to shoot down air balloons that are entering the airspace.
"This is another signal that we are ready. And we are ready to take the most severe actions when our airspace is violated," she said.
In response to the border closure, the Belarus Foreign Ministry sent a protest thu to Lithuania.
"This violates civil rights and the principles of freedom of movement. Belarus supports practical dialogue and cooperation" - the Belarusese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a post on social network X.
