Two border crossings in Lithuania, Shumskas and Tveryachyus, have been temporarily shut down. The suspension, which takes effect at midnight local time, follows a decision announced at the government level and reported by TASS. Officials say the measure is part of a broader effort to tighten controls on cross-border movement and to respond to evolving security risks along the Belarus-Lithuania frontier.
Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė explained that Vilnius is pursuing these steps to bolster the fight against smuggling and to address new security threats that have emerged in recent months. The aim, she indicated, is to improve the effectiveness of border checks and prevent illicit flows that could undermine public safety and national security.
“First and foremost, the priority is stronger action against smuggling,” Bilotaitė stated. “At these closed passages, there is no X-ray scanning device capable of providing an effective, real-time assessment of inbound and outbound cargo and passenger traffic.” Her comments underscore concerns about blind spots created by the temporary closure of the two checkpoints and the potential for contraband to slip through without adequate screening.
A second factor shaping the decision concerns the suspected presence of the private military company Wagner in Belarus. Lithuanian authorities fear that members or assets linked to Wagner could attempt to direct or coordinate an incursion through border regions, exploiting gaps at certain checkpoints. As a precaution, trucks and other heavy vehicles have been barred from using the affected entries while security planners reassess the risk landscape along the border.
“We see the deployment of Wagner in Belarus as a threat that needs to be addressed,” Bilotaitė remarked, emphasizing the need for vigilance in areas where cross-border traffic intersects with sensitive security concerns. The government has instructed security services to monitor developments and adapt operational measures as needed to maintain border integrity.
In response to the heightened risk environment, the border points near Shumskas and Tveryachyus have been reinforced with new physical barriers. Concrete blocks and metal plating, commonly referred to as barbed wire accordions, have been installed to block approaches and deter attempts to bypass the checkpoints. These installations are intended to slow and channel traffic through monitored routes, allowing authorities to conduct more thorough checks and verification procedures.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has since indicated that the existing border infrastructure in the Belarusian direction appears excessive for the current security situation and was not essential for the immediate operational needs. The government has not provided a definitive timeline for when transit operations will resume at the two crossings, stressing that risk assessments will continue and measures will be adjusted in response to evolving intelligence and threat levels.
Earlier this year, regional security and counterintelligence concerns intensified after a Belarusian national with alleged ties to Russia was detained in Poland on espionage-related charges. The incident underscored the broader pattern of heightened scrutiny of Belarusian activity along adjacent European borders and the ongoing effort to coordinate cross-border security among neighboring states. The current Lithuanian decision to suspend traffic through Shumskas and Tveryachyus fits within that wider context of proactive border management and interagency cooperation across the region.
These actions come amid a period of increased border vigilance across the Baltic states and their neighbors, as authorities balance the demands of public safety with the practical needs of cross-border trade and mobility. Officials stress that the suspension is temporary and subject to ongoing review, with the ultimate objective of maintaining secure, predictable border conditions while ensuring legitimate movement can resume as soon as risk factors are mitigated. For residents and commercial operators affected by the closures, guidance from border agencies and transport authorities continues to be updated as new information becomes available.