Alex Ovechkin appears in Putin party campaign video
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Caps captain Alex Ovechkin is under fire for appearing in a campaign video for Vladimir Putin's ruling political party. Photo: Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images
A campaign video for Vladimir Putin's ruling party that features Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is reigniting scrutiny of the hockey legend's ties to the Russian leader.
Why it matters: Ovechkin's public support for Putin has long coexisted with his status as one of D.C.'s most celebrated athletes.
- The controversy lands just as the Caps' longtime captain begins what could be his final NHL season.
Driving the news: Ovechkin appears in the United Russia election ad standing alongside Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other prominent politicos and media figures ahead of the country's Sept. 18-20 parliamentary elections, according to The Guardian and independent Russian outlet Meduza.
- Ovechkin doesn't speak in the video. He appears in a group behind Lavrov alongside figures including Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the Russian state-controlled network RT.
- The video is part of a series promoting United Russia's leading candidates, the outlets report.
Friction point: The video drew swift backlash on social media when it began circulating Monday, including calls for the NHL to cut ties with one of its leading players.
- José Andrés called it "a sad day for my beloved DC team!!" citing Russia's war with Ukraine and its alleged role in American casualties in Iran.
- Former NHL goaltender Dominik Hasek criticized the ad, saying everyone featured "has chosen to officially support Russia's imperialist war in Ukraine."
What they're saying: Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov tells Axios in a statement that this summer, while living in Russia during the offseason, Ovechkin "was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign."
- Kocharov didn't give further details about the video, saying that Ovechkin's "focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city."
- Axios' attempts to reach Ovechkin weren't immediately returned.
Flashback: Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin for years. In 2017, he launched "PutinTeam," a social movement supporting the Russian president ahead of his reelection.
- After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, however, Ovechkin struck a more guarded tone. "Please, no more war," he told reporters, while continuing to call Putin "my president."
- "I am not in politics," Ovechkin said at the time. "I'm not in control of this situation."
- In 2025, when Ovechkin broke the NHL's career goals record, Putin congratulated him on the Kremlin's Telegram channel.
State of play: Ovechkin returned to Washington from Russia last week and starts training camp Thursday — his 41st birthday.
- The NHL's all-time goals leader signed a one-year, $4.25 million deal (plus a $3.25 million signing bonus) in July to return for a 22nd season, saying he wanted a shot at a second Stanley Cup title and to prove he can still compete at the highest level.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to add comment from the Capitals.