A child stands on the T-34 Soviet tank set as a monument in the center of Tiraspol, capital of the unrecognized Moldovan Republic of Transnistria on April 3, 2017. (AFP)

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."

Last year in May, the Interior Ministry of the unrecognized Moldovan Republic of Transnistria said that four explosions occurred in the Transnistrian village of Varancau near the Ukrainian border, reportedly caused by explosive devices dropped from a drone.

"Four explosions occurred near the village of Varancau in Ribnita district, in the area of the former airfield. On the evening of May 6, approximately at 9:40 p.m. [18:40 GMT], the first two explosive devices were dropped, presumably from a drone. An hour later the attack was repeated," the ministry said on social media.

The craters were about 1 meter (3 feet) deep and 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) in diameter, according to the ministry.