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09/15/26 12:52:00
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09/15 12:50 CDT Capitals say Alex Ovechkin was asked to film United Russia ad
while home this summer
Capitals say Alex Ovechkin was asked to film United Russia ad while home this
summer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- After NHL career goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin appeared
in an ad for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party that came to light this week,
the Washington Capitals said their long-time captain was asked to participate
in the video campaign while back in his home country 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," team spokesperson
Sergey Kocharov said Tuesday in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "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."
Ovechkin is seen in the commercial standing behind Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov. 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 NHL deferred to the Capitals when asked for comment. Ovechkin is expected
to be made available to reporters on Thursday when training camp opens ahead of
his 22nd NHL season.
Ovechkin, who turns 41 on Thursday, 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 AP 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.
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See AP's full NHL coverage here
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