Belarus Launches Border Balloons to Smuggle Cigarettes into Poland

Belarus has been sending balloons to smuggle cigarettes across the border into Poland for three consecutive days, according to an Associated Press report on February 3. The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command stated that Belarus is attempting to 'reconnaissance and check the reaction of Poland's air defense systems'. A military spokesperson noted that balloon incidents have increased in frequency compared to the previous year, potentially due to political decisions in Belarus or smugglers adapting to Poland's stricter border defenses. While the military emphasized that these incidents do not pose a threat to Polish airspace security, temporary flight restrictions have been imposed on airspace near the Belarus border in the Podlaskie region.