"Approximately eight drones were directed -- there is no doubt about this -- towards the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant," Alexey Likhachev, the head of Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency, told a press conference

"All of them were neutralised and shot down. However, debris fell and damaged the main switchgear."

The facility disconnected and reduced the capacity of three power units as a "preventative measure", he said.

The plant was fully reconnected by Thursday morning.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly traded accusations of targeting nuclear plants throughout the nearly four-year war, triggered when Moscow launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022.

Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is in a cold shutdown for safety. They continue to control it.

They also captured the defunct Chernobyl facility in the early months of the invasion, before retreating weeks later.

Kyiv has accused Moscow of risking a nuclear disaster by targeting nuclear sites, while Likhachev said Ukraine was increasing its own attacks on Russian plants.

Ukraine did not immediately respond to Russia's accusations on Friday.

Likhachev was speaking alongside the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, who was on a visit to Kaliningrad to discuss the status of the Zaporizhzhia plant.