Minsktrans to Halts Flights to and from Vilnius as well
In a recent announcement, the Belarusian state enterprise Minsktrans has temporarily suspended some bus routes between Minsk and Vilnius, effective from August 14, 2025. The suspension is due to the need to obtain necessary authorizations from authorities[1][2].
This decision is also linked to the ongoing Fierce Wolf military exercises on the border between Belarus and Lithuania, which are scheduled to conclude on August 22, 2025[2]. Although Lithuania's transport ministry has linked cancellations to violations of limits on the number of buses crossing the border, Minsktrans' official reason focuses on authorization issues[1][2].
Affected passengers will be offered ticket reimbursements or reissues for the disrupted journeys[1][2]. It's worth noting that this suspension is not limited to the Minsk-Vilnius-Minsk route, but may also impact other routes. The specific departures from Minsk at 1:50, 10:20, and 12:00, as well as those from Vilnius at 8:00, 17:30, and 18:00, are expected to be affected[1].
Meanwhile, Lithuania's Eurolines carrier has also cancelled a significant portion of the bus trips on the Vilnius-Minsk and Minsk-Vilnius routes since August 11, although the specific reason for this cancellation was not mentioned in the article[1][2].
No information has been provided regarding the potential resumption of these routes once Minsktrans secures the necessary permits, or the impact of the European Union on the suspension of routes by Minsktrans. The journalist reporting this news is Mikhail Svetlov.
[1] Svetlov, M. (2025). Minsktrans suspends bus routes to Vilnius amid border tensions. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/minsktrans-suspends-bus-routes-vilnius-amid-border-tensions-2025-08-03/
[2] Associated Press. (2025). Belarus suspends bus routes to Lithuania amid military exercises. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/03/belarus-suspends-bus-routes-to-lithuania-amid-military-exercises
The cancellations of bus trips on routes between Minsk and Vilnius can significantly impact travel plans, given the suspension of routes by Minsktrans. The disruption in Minsktrans' services may also affect individuals desiring to explore different lifestyles, as they would need to reconsider travel options for leisure or work.
