The Russian Foreign Ministry warned the United States, NATO, and Ukraine on Friday against taking any bold steps in light of the amassing of troops and equipment of Ukrainian units near the Ukrainian-Transnistrian border.

"In connection with the significant accumulation of personnel and military equipment of Ukrainian units near the Ukrainian-Transnistrian border, the deployment of artillery at firing positions, as well as the unprecedented increase in flights of unmanned aircraft of the Ukrainian armed forces over the territory of Transnistria, we warn the United States, NATO member countries and their Ukrainian wards from the next bold steps," the Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian armed forces will respond appropriately to any provocation from Kiev and will ensure the protection of compatriots and peacekeepers in the region, according to the Ministry. "Any action that poses a threat to their security will be considered, in accordance with international law, as an attack on Russia," the statement read.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine is planning an armed provocation against Transnistria, which will be carried out by Ukrainian armed units, including the Nazi-extremist Azov Battalion.

The Ministry wrote on Telegram that the Kiev government is planning an armed provocation against the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic [PMR] in the near future, which will be carried out by units of Ukraine's armed forces, including the Azov nationalist unit.

Ukraine intends to stage an alleged offensive by Russian troops from Transnistria as a pretext for an invasion of the PMR. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, saboteurs will be dressed in Russian military uniforms to accomplish this.

It stated that it is closely monitoring the situation on the Ukrainian-PMR border and is "prepared to respond to any changes in the situation."