(CNN) Russia has stepped up its role in the conflict in Syria by deploying military police to the country's north.

The Russian units are patrolling a contact line between Syrian and Turkish forces , according to a statement Tuesday by Russia's Defense Ministry. The line runs along the northwestern borders of the Manbij district.

After Turkey launched a long-threatened offensive across the border into Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria last week, local Syrian Kurdish leaders struck a deal with Syria's government in Damascus to enforce the border.

Now Russia is standing behind the Syrian troops deployed to the region. On Tuesday, Russia's presidential envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, told state news agency TASS on Tuesday that Moscow "won't allow" clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces on the ground.

Turkey has said its aim is to clear "terrorists" from the area and install Syrian refugees that have been sheltering on the Turkish side of the border.