Russian military helicopters dropped ten...

Massive blocks of ice often form dams in narrow areas of Russian rivers in spring, sometimes causing some of Russia"s vast rivers to swell beyond their banks.

Two Mi-8 helicopters were dispatched over the weekend to deal with an ice dam under a highway bridge some 180 from the West Siberian city of Novosibirsk.

"About ten aviation bombs were dropped... All objectives were met in time, with full compliance of all safety rules and without any damage to the coastal zone," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.

Some 3,000 Russian cities and towns with a combined population of about 2 million people are threatened by spring flooding annually.

MOSCOW, April 26 (RIA Novosti)