The incident prompted security guards to call the police.
A quadrocopter crashed into the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Fontanka reports, citing Dmitry Khashchenko, a leading Hermitage security officer.
The incident occurred on September 7, but it became known only later. According to the museum representative, the daily security guard noticed the damaged drone during a round of the territory.
Dmitry Khashchenko explained that the quadrocopter first collided with the Winter Palace building and then fell near the Winter Groove. The guards checked the apparatus for dangerous objects and then notified law enforcement.
The guard also noted that the owners of the quadrocopter did not contact the museum after the incident. Earlier, when flying drones was allowed, such cases happened and usually the owners came to the Hermitage.
At the moment, the drone is in the possession of police officers. It turned out to be an ordinary civilian quadrocopter. However, the incident has caused concern among Hermitage staff because of the city's ban on drone flights. Earlier, the St. Petersburg authorities extended the ban on the use of drones until September 30.