Alex Ovechkin Appears in United Russia Campaign Ad

Alex Ovechkin Appears in United Russia Campaign Video

As he prepares for his 22nd NHL season, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has found himself at the center of renewed political scrutiny. The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of the hockey superstar appearing alongside prominent pro-Putin figures in a campaign advertisement for the governing United Russia party.

The commercial features Ovechkin standing near Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who serves as the leading parliamentary candidate on the party’s list. Also identified in the promotional material alongside Lavrov are Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of state-controlled broadcaster RT, former NHL player Viacheslav Fetisov, actor Vladimir Mashkov, and singer Tatyana Kurtukova. The advertisement carries the slogan, When we are united, we are invincible.

The Russian legislative elections are scheduled to run from Friday through Sunday. Independent analysis has widely characterized recent Russian electoral contests, including the 2024 presidential vote where officials claimed Putin secured over 87 percent of the ballot, as fraudulent.

The Washington Capitals and Team Response

Ovechkin arrived at the Capitals’ Arlington, Va., training facility for preseason workouts. The organization issued a formal statement addressing the controversy surrounding their long-tenured captain.

Alexander Ovechkin Appears Alongside Sergei Lavrov in New Election Campaign Spot

“Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement. This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign. As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, D.C. 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.”

Sergey Kocharov, Capitals spokesperson, via USA TODAY Sports

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with Washington in July.

Sharp Criticism from the Hockey World and Public Figures

The campaign video generated immediate backlash across international sports and local D.C. communities. Critics pointed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which intensified into a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Everyone in this photograph has chosen to officially support Russia’s imperialist war in Ukraine. Among them are also hockey player Ovechkin and former hockey player and national team captain Fetisov.

Alex Ovechkin Signs One-Year Contract Extension With Washington Capitals

Dominik Hasek, Hall of Fame goaltender, via The Athletic

Hasek added in an interview with DW Sports Media that this advertisement is the biggest for the war because Ovechkin remains the most famous Russian player right now. Other prominent figures echoed those condemnations on social media. Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts posted that Ovechkin should not be allowed back into the United States or permitted to play in the NHL. Norm Ornstein, a contributing editor of The Atlantic, replied to a team social media post featuring the forward by stating that observers look at him with utter contempt.

Local reaction in Washington was similarly severe. Renowned D.C. chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, a prominent resident of the D.C. area, posted on social media that it was a sad day for my beloved DC team!! Andres, whose World Central Kitchen organization has helped serve more than 300 million meals in Ukraine since the war began, recently received the National Legend of Ukraine award from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Alexander Ovechkin Supports Putin’s Party in New Election Ad Alongside Lavrov

Longstanding Ties to Vladimir Putin

Ovechkin’s political alignment with the Russian president is well-documented. In 2017, the winger founded Putin Team, a social movement intended to unite individuals who wanted to make Russia stronger and support the leader’s policies. His personal Instagram avatar has long featured a photograph of himself alongside Putin.

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ovechkin addressed reporters by stating, Please, no more war. It doesn’t matter who’s in a war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world, like, we have to live in peace and a great world. At the time, he also maintained, He’s my president, but … I’m not in politics, adding that he was not in control of the situation.

The U.S. As the Capitals open their training camp schedule, the renewed focus on their captain’s political activities places the franchise under an intense international spotlight once again.