Belarusian border guard briefly crosses into Lithuania near Šalčininkai

A Belarusian border guard illegally crossed into Lithuanian territory near the village of Krakūnai in Šalčininkai district on Wednesday, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported.

According to the VSAT statement, four armed Belarusian officials were patrolling their side of the border when they approached the closed Krakūnai–Geranainiai checkpoint, which has been shut since 2020. The area is monitored by Lithuania’s Gintaro Žagunio border outpost.

One of the Belarusian officers crossed the border line via the connecting road and entered Lithuanian territory by about one metre, sitting briefly on a concrete barrier blocking the road from the Lithuanian side. The guard then returned to Belarus, where the patrol continued.

A pre-trial investigation into the illegal border crossing has been launched by the Varėna Border Police Unit, overseen by a prosecutor from Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office.