Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say they 'stand with the people of Ukraine' in new statement

• Prince Harry and Meghan have issued a statement responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• They said they stand with Ukraine against this "breach of international and humanitarian law."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have issued a powerful message in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Writing in a joint statement on their Archewell website, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrote: "We stand with the people of Ukraine."

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same," a spokesperson for the couple wrote.

It appears to be the first statement issued by members of the royal family about the Russian invasion.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with airstrikes and shelling in the early hours of Thursday morning in an invasion that had been feared for weeks, something that President Vladimir Putin called a "peace-keeping operation."

As Insider previously reported, Putin recognized two Ukrainian separatist regions — Luhansk and Donetsk — as independent states, calling Ukraine "not just a neighboring country," but also "an inherent part of our history" with "blood and family ties" during a speech on Monday, according to the RT translation.

Harry and Markle's statement comes after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Thursday.

In the statement, Johnson said he offers the support of the UK and condemned Putin's actions.

"I say to the Ukrainians in this moment of agony, we are praying for you and your families and we are on your side," Johnson said in the video message.