Lithuanian border guards discover another illegal migrant tunnel

On August 5, 2026, the Lithuanian border guard service announced the discovery of a new, incomplete tunnel located under the border fence between Lithuania and Belarus. The passage, which did not have an exit, was dug at a depth of approximately 1.5 meters and reinforced with timber and boards. According to authorities, the tunnel featured a camouflaged entrance and stretched about four meters from Belarusian territory into Lithuania. Border guards identified the structure using specialized electronic detection equipment.

Lithuania has repeatedly accused Belarus of orchestrating the illegal movement of migrants from crisis-affected regions toward the EU's external borders. In response to these persistent attempts to bypass border security, the government in Vilnius has significantly reinforced its defense measures, including the construction of an extensive physical border fence. The current discovery marks the third such tunnel found in the area within the last few weeks. Furthermore, media reports indicate that Lithuanian border personnel have recently faced physical aggression from groups of migrants during attempts to enforce border integrity.