Ovechkin ‘was asked’ to film Putin ad: Capitals

The Washington Capitals on Tuesday deflected criticism of star Alex Ovechkin’s appearance in a campaign video for Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the NHL all-time goal-scoring leader had been “asked by his country to participate.”

Ovechkin is seen in the commercial standing behind Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and was among a group of prominent Russians shown in the campaign video for the ruling United Russia Party ahead of nationwide elections this week.

Viacheslav “Slava” Fetisov also participated, leading to backlash on social media from fellow Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, who called it support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin acknowledges the crowd after he was named the first star after an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Washington on April 12.

Photo: AP

“Everyone in this photograph has chosen to officially support Russia’s imperialist war in Ukraine... Because of each of them, many Ukrainians and Russians will be killed,” the Czech star wrote on social media, above a photo of the campaign video.

Capitals spokesman Sergey Kocharov said in a statement that Ovechkin was “asked by his country to participate in a video campaign” while in Russia this summer.

“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement,” Kocharov said. “As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, DC, and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”

Ovechkin is expected to be made available to reporters today when training camp opens ahead of his 22nd NHL season.

Ovechkin, who turns 41 today, previously voiced support for the Russian president in 2017 when he started a social movement called the “Putin Team.”

At the time, he told reporters from The Associated Press and the Washington Post: “I just support my country.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin said “please, no more war,” when asked about the situation.

Asked then about his relationship with Putin, Ovechkin said: “He’s my president, but I’m not in politics. I’m an athlete.”

Putin has cracked down on dissent in the years since launching what he calls a special military operation in Ukraine, including punishment for referring to it as a war.

Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s goals record in April 2024 with his 895th. He has scored 929 in his career, which began in 2005 after the Capitals took him with the first pick in the 2004 draft.