Lithuanian authorities have launched an investigation after discovering a suspected underground tunnel extending from Belarus toward Lithuania, raising concerns that it may have been intended to facilitate irregular migration and cross-border smuggling.
According to Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), officials detected unusual ground vibrations last week that suggested excavation activity beneath the border in the southeastern Varėna district. The discovery prompted an inspection using specialised tunnel-detection equipment in cooperation with Polish border authorities.
Following exploratory drilling, officials located an underground passage that had been excavated from the Belarusian side but had not yet reached Lithuanian territory. Authorities said the tunnel measures approximately one metre in diameter and lies about 1.5 metres below the surface.
Investigators are now working to determine who was responsible for constructing the tunnel and whether it is connected to organised migrant smuggling or other cross-border criminal networks.
Lithuanian officials noted that similar tunnels have previously been discovered along the borders shared by Belarus with both Lithuania and Poland. In earlier cases, underground passages were reportedly used to smuggle migrants, tobacco products and other illicit goods across the frontier.
The latest discovery comes amid ongoing tensions along the European Union’s eastern border. Lithuania, Poland and Latvia have repeatedly accused Belarus, with the support of Russia, of facilitating the movement of migrants from Asia and Africa toward EU borders as part of what they describe as a form of “hybrid warfare” intended to destabilise the bloc. Both Belarus and Russia have consistently denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Latvia reported a separate border security incident last week involving migrants attempting to cross from Belarus.
The Latvian military said soldiers used tear gas and fired a warning shot after a group of migrants allegedly became aggressive and threw logs at border personnel while attempting to enter the country illegally.
According to the Latvian army, the warning shot was fired into the air only after the individuals ignored repeated lawful orders to retreat. The group later returned to Belarusian territory.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said the number of migrants attempting to enter Latvia from Belarus has doubled in recent weeks, although he did not disclose specific figures.
Describing the situation as a “hybrid threat,” Kulbergs said Latvia has significantly increased the deployment of border guards and security personnel along its frontier. He added that Lithuanian and Estonian border officials, together with the Latvian military, are cooperating to strengthen border security.
Border tensions in the region have remained high in recent years. In December 2025, Poland reported that more than 180 migrants entered the country through what authorities believed was a concealed tunnel located in a forest near the Belarusian border.
The latest investigation underscores growing concerns among Baltic nations over increasingly sophisticated methods of irregular border crossings, as authorities continue efforts to combat migrant smuggling and strengthen security along the European Union’s eastern frontier.