More than a thousand Lithuanian trucks remain blocked in Belarus following the closure of border crossings in the fall of 2023. Owners are receiving bills of approximately €120 per day for equipment storage; the industry's cumulative losses are already measured in millions of euros, while the timelines for the return of the vehicles remain uncertain.

What Happened — Briefly and Without Diplomacy

Hundreds of Lithuanian trucks remain effectively blocked in Belarus. According to the carriers' association Linava, as of today:

• 1,071 seized vehicles have been confirmed.

• Of these:

  • 496 tractors

  • 575 semi-trailers

• The real figure could reach up to 4,000 units.

And most importantly—owners continue to receive invoices.

The Meter is Running: The Cost of Idleness

According to the president of the association, Erlandas Mikėnas:

"Storage fees of about 120 euros per day per unit of equipment are being demanded."

This is not just a formality. In reality, the situation looks like this:

• Companies receive official invoices;

• They are required to sign contracts for "storage services";

• The equipment remains in impound lots without owner access.

A practical calculation shared by carriers:

$10\text{ trucks} \times 120\text{ €} \times 60\text{ days} = 72,000\text{ € in losses for storage alone.}$

For several companies, the bills have already exceeded hundreds of thousands of euros.

Why the Trucks Ended Up Trapped

The crisis began after Lithuania's decision to close two border checkpoints in the fall:

• Medininkai

• Šalčininkai

The reason cited was regular violations of airspace by balloons.

When the crossings closed:

1. Part of the truck fleet was caught inside Belarus;

2. Vehicles were left on roadsides;

3. They were subsequently towed to impound lots.

Even after the borders reopened, the equipment has not been returned to the owners en masse.

What This Means Personally for Businesses and Drivers

I spoke with several carriers—the picture is the same for everyone.

1. Instant Financial Blow: Lease payments continue while the equipment earns nothing.

2. Risk of Bankruptcy: Small companies cannot withstand even 2–3 months of downtime.

3. Contract Issues: Shippers are already terminating long-term agreements.

One logistics firm owner put it bluntly:

"Every day of downtime is like burning money in a furnace."

Scale of Losses — Key Figures

• Up to 4,000 blocked units of equipment.

• 120 € per day for storage.

• Millions of euros in cumulative losses.

• Hundreds of thousands of euros in losses per single company.

✔️ Practical Conclusions for Carriers

Based on the experience of companies already dealing with the situation, what actually helps:

• Urgent documentation and filing of all invoices;

• Notifying insurance companies;

• Filing collective legal appeals;

• Not signing storage agreements without consulting a lawyer.

The Bottom Line

This is no longer a temporary border delay. It is a financial trap that intensifies daily—and the consequences for the regional logistics market could be felt for years.