A famous hockey player, Alexander Ovechkin, was featured in a video promoting the ruling party of Russia, United Russia. This video was released as the Russian parliamentary elections are set to take place from September 18 to 20, and Ovechkin will not be able to vote in person due to training for the upcoming NHL season in the United States.
Appearance in the Video and Criticism
In this video, Ovechkin is seen in the third row among a group of supporters, next to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister. This appearance has faced criticism, including from Vladislav Herabsky, a Ukrainian champion who was banned from the 2026 Diamond for wearing a hat featuring the design of athletes killed in the war in Ukraine.
Ovechkin has previously expressed his support for Vladimir Putin and in 2017 launched a group called "Putin Team" to support him in the 2018 presidential election. In this regard, he stated: "I have never hidden my feelings about our president and have always openly supported him."
Position on the Ukraine War
After the onset of the Ukraine war, Ovechkin responded to a question about his support for Putin by saying: "He is my president, but I am not in politics; I am an athlete." He also vaguely called for peace but refrained from criticizing Moscow's military actions. Ovechkin has stated in an interview: "Please, no more war. It doesn't matter who is at war — Russia, Ukraine, or other countries."
Recently, Ovechkin has been focusing on his training for the new NHL season with the Washington Capitals and is seeking his second Stanley Cup at the age of 41. He has also mentioned that he hopes to return home to Russia soon and supports living in his country.
In response to a question about his participation in the promotional video, Ovechkin said: "They asked me, and I agreed. It's that simple." However, he is well aware that his political views may attract attention and criticism.
