Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had ordered more troops to the south of the country, on the border with Ukraine.

However, Belarusian troops would not take part in the attack in Ukraine, he said, according to state news agency Belta.

This is the transfer of five tactical battle groups to protect the southern part of Belarus, he said. These groups consist of hundreds of soldiers equipped with armored vehicles and artillery.

Helicopters and fighter jets are already in the process of protecting Belarus’ southern border, he said after a meeting of the country’s security council on Tuesday.

“That’s not our job,” he said, explaining the decision not to send troops to Ukraine.

He also said he was sending troops west to the border with NATO country Poland.

“Under no circumstances should we allow the invasion of NATO forces on Belarusian territory, even operations on our territory,” he said.

Last week, he gave the green light for Russia to use Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north. On Monday this week, Belarus said yes in a referendum to amend the constitution so that nuclear weapons can be placed on the country’s territory.

Earlier Tuesday, Lukashenko refused to allow his country to enter Ukraine, but later in the day, Ukrainian authorities claimed that there were already Belarusian soldiers in Ukraine. Early Tuesday morning, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed at a press conference that Belarus has troops inside Ukraine.