Alex Ovechkin Promotes Putin’s United Russia Party in Propaganda Campaign
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Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has once again aligned himself with President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian United Russia party, appearing in a state-backed advertisement. The team claims his political actions won’t impact his NHL duties, but critics say his support for a regime known for repression and aggression is deeply troubling.
Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin appeared in a television spot alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, voicing support for President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party—a political force synonymous with crackdowns on dissent and aggressive foreign policy. The ad, which surfaced this week, has reignited concerns about Ovechkin’s unwavering support for Putin’s regime and its anti-democratic practices.
The Capitals confirmed Ovechkin’s participation, attempting to downplay its significance by stating his off-ice political activities will not affect the upcoming NHL season. > "Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement," team spokesman Sergey Kocharov told NBC News. "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."
Ovechkin, 41, has scored 929 goals in 21 NHL seasons, all with the Capitals, and surpassed Wayne Gretzky on the all-time goal list in April 2025. He won the Stanley Cup in 2018 and was named playoff MVP that year. However, his continued public support for Putin’s oppressive government has drawn condemnation, including from former goaltender Dominik Hašek, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, who recently denounced Ovechkin’s involvement in the campaign.