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Lithuania

Balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes closed Lithuania's main airport

Thousands of passengers' journeys were disrupted after the authorities closed Vilnius Airport for hours as a precaution.

Belarus

Belarus pitches new NPP to supply energy to Russian-occupied Ukraine

Belarus opened its first nuclear power plant in Astravets in 2020 amid protests and concern in neighbouring Lithuania, where there was opposition to the plant's location.

Poland

Poland to reopen border with Belarus, PM Donald Tusk says

The shutdown was a result of Russia-led military exercises in Belarus known as Zapad 2025.

World News

Belarus expels Czech diplomat after Prague makes spy ring accusations

The expulsion comes after Czech and Polish authorities expelled Belarusian diplomats earlier this month, as part of a wider crackdown on a European spy ring made up of agents from Belarus' KGB state security agency.

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Europe News

EU 'closely' monitors trade impact of Poland-Belarus border closure

The closure of all crossing points between Poland and Belarus has interrupted a traditional trade route between the EU and China.

Poland

Poland detains Belarusian and Ukranian citizens over drone incident

Authorities have questioned the suspects overnight and dismissed the possibility of "massive espionage action".

Poland

Drone neutralised over government buildings in Warsaw, PM Tusk says

The incident comes at a time of heightened regional tensions following a string of airspace violations.

World News

Freed Belarus prisoners: Opposition leader refuses forced exile

The 52 prisoners freed last Thursday in a US-brokered deal with Belarus were sent to Vilnius, Lithuania. Among those freed was Mikalai Statkevich, a prominent opposition leader who refused to leave Belarus and is now missing.

Russia

Russia flexes army muscles at NATO's doors days after drone incursion

Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus as the joint Russia-Belarus military exercises Zapad-2025 begin at NATO’s doorstep. Moscow and Minks claim the drills simulate repelling an attack against Russia and Belarus. But Zapad-2021 masked Russia’s preparations for its invasion of Ukraine.

Europe News

Ukrainian army to provide drone combat in Poland after airspace breach

Following the violation of Polish airspace by 19 Russian drones, Poland and Ukraine are stepping up their military cooperation.

Belarus

Belarus frees 52 prisoners after Trump’s intervention, Nausėda says

Belarus released 52 prisoners, including 14 foreigners, who crossed into Lithuania. Lithuanian President Nausėda thanked Trump for his support.

Belarus

Should NATO’s east expect more drone attacks ahead of Zapad-2025?

On Friday, Russia and Belarus are set to begin their joint military exercises. Poland announced earlier this week that it will shut down its border with Belarus during the Zapad-2025 drills, calling them “very aggressive”. Then, Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic and allies break up Belarus spy network across Europe

The Czech intelligence agency said Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries.

Europe News

Putin can only be kept in check through strong deterrence,VDL says

The European Commission President made the comment during a visit to the Polish-Belarusian border on Sunday.

Lithuania

Former labour union leader Ruginienė becomes Lithuania's new premier

Ruginienė, a former head of Lithuania’s labour union confederation, joined the centre-left Social Democratic Party just before a general election last year.

Belarus

Russian allies Belarus and Iran agree to boost bilateral defence ties

Lukashenka, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for Moscow’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles.

Russia

Russian dissidents face limbo as Germany halts humanitarian visas

Alexey Moskalyov and his daughter Masha Moskalyova fled Russia after he was imprisoned for discrediting the army. Germany rejected their humanitarian visa, leaving their fate uncertain.

Belarus

Belarus journalist sentenced to 10 years for treason in closes trial

Danil Palianski, detained since September 2024, is one of 37 journalists currently imprisoned in Belarus.

Belarus

Belarus targets dozens of government critics with raids, activists say

Mass arrests and convictions of government critics have continued since Alexander Lukashenko was handed a sixth term as president in an election that the opposition and the West denounced as rigged.

Europe News

Putin threatens Europe with Oreshnik missile deployment to Belarus

Russia first used the Oreshnik against Ukraine in November, when it fired the experimental weapon at a factory in Dnipro that built missiles when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.