NHL's all-time goal scorer appears in Kremlin party ad, drawing sharp criticism from hockey figures and rights advocates.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, appeared in a campaign video for President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party, standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to reports published September 14-15, 2026, by Meduza, Russian Machine Never Breaks, ESPN and The Washington Post. The ad surfaced ahead of Russia's State Duma elections, scheduled for September 18-20, 2026.
Details of the Campaign Video
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In the commercial, Lavrov delivers the central message, warning that those who approach Russia "with a sword" should expect "no mercy," while those dealing with Russia "honestly" will find "agreement," according to Russian Machine Never Breaks and other outlets. Ovechkin does not speak in the video, appearing silently among a group of prominent supporters that includes RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, State Duma official Vyacheslav Nikonov, Roscosmos official Sergei Krikalev, actor Vladimir Mashkov and singer Tatyana Kurtukova, per Meduza. Related United Russia clips also featured former NHL defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin and MMA fighter Fedor Emelianenko, Russian Machine Never Breaks reported. The spots reportedly began airing on Russian television around September 10, 2026, shortly before Ovechkin returned to the United States for NHL training camp.
Capitals' Response and Backlash
The Washington Capitals told the Associated Press, as reported by ESPN, that Ovechkin "was asked to participate" in the video while he was in Russia this summer, a statement that distanced the organization from the ad's political content without directly condemning it. Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek publicly criticized both Ovechkin and Fetisov, characterizing their participation as support for Russia's war against Ukraine, according to ESPN. Additional coverage from The Hockey News and The Independent described calls from some fans and commentators for the NHL to sanction or ban Ovechkin over the appearance, though no league action has been announced.
History of Support for Putin
Ovechkin, 40, has a documented history of public support for Putin. In 2017, he launched a movement called "Putin Team" ahead of Russia's 2018 presidential election, telling reporters at the time that he "just support[s] my country" and was not involved in "political stuff," according to ESPN and Russian Machine Never Breaks. Critics cited in this week's coverage argue the United Russia ad extends that pattern rather than representing an isolated incident.
