Vladimir Putin

Alex Ovechkin to discuss Russia’s attack on Ukraine in the near future

Thursday’s Washington Capitals game against the New York Rangers will be overshadowed by a deepening crisis on the other side of the world. Late on Wednesday night, Russia invaded Ukraine in a multi-pronged attack that included missile attacks on Ukrainian targets.

As the world has looked on in horror, some of the hockey conversation online has focused on Alex Ovechkin and his earlier support of Russian president Vladimir Putin. In 2014, Ovechkin posted a photo labeled “Save Children From Fascism” when Russia annexed Crimea. In 2017, Ovechkin participated in a propaganda website called Putin Team (website here), which Kremlin sources said later was not Ovechkin’s creation. Ovechkin has long been friendly with Putin and has said he has Putin’s phone number. When Ovechkin and Nastya Ovechkina wed in 2017, the couple received a wedding gift from Putin.

Given his history of conspicuous support for Putin and his status as the world’s most famous Russian athlete, Ovechkin was requested for access by the team’s beat reporters. Ovechkin has not been made available yet, but he will speak on the topic in the near future.

Ovechkin’s family, including his wife, sons, and parents, are currently in Russia.

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Alex Ovechkin responds to Artemi Panarin’s criticism of Vladimir Putin

On Thursday, Alex Ovechkin held a press conference ahead of his annual youth hockey tournament in Moscow. Ovechkin was asked by a reporter about fellow Russian NHL player Artemi Panarin, who recently made comments critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The press conference was reported by Sport24, as translated by Igor Kleyner.

The reporter asked if Ovechkin agreed with Panarin’s comment that nothing has changed in Russia since the 1990s.

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