The Foreign Desk Explainer 498: Belarus’s balloon offensive
Dec 17, 2025
Balloons in military history get a closer look, from the 1794 Battle of Fleurus to their modern roles in hybrid warfare. Lithuania faces balloon incursions from Belarus, leading to flight disruptions and a state of emergency. The intriguing tactics used, such as cigarette cargoes as distractions, reveal the deniable nature of such actions. Andrew Mueller discusses the complexities of responding to these aerial nuisances and the implications of recent arrests. The rising trend of using balloons in surveillance echoes a global pattern of hybrid warfare.
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Historical Military Use Of Balloons
- Balloons have a long military history dating back to 1794 at the Battle of Fleurus where they were used for observation.
- Andrew Mueller notes the initial deployment was embarrassing but balloons later served as observation platforms, decoys and nuisances.
Modern Examples Of Balloon Warfare
- Nations have used balloons for hostile messaging and disruption, like North and South Korea exchanging leaflet and trash-borne flights.
- Mueller cites Russia's 2023 reflector balloons over Kyiv as another recent example of radar-confusing deployments.
Balloons As Disruptive Hybrid Weapons
- Belarus has been sending large balloons into Lithuania causing major civil-disruption and financial cost to aviation.
- The devices carried boxes of cigarettes but Lithuanian authorities suspect the cargo is a prop for deniability.