Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, has made headlines by appearing in a campaign ad for the United Russia party, known for its support of Vladimir Putin. This move comes as he gears up for the upcoming hockey season.

Images released by the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti show Ovechkin alongside prominent pro-Putin figures, including Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the propaganda network RT.

Ovechkin has been a long-time supporter of Putin, launching the Putin Team in 2017, a social movement aimed at uniting those proud of their country and wishing to strengthen Russia. He has previously expressed admiration for Putin’s leadership qualities, stating that he values Putin’s “trust in and respect for his people, his fairness, and the fact that he really cares.”

However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ovechkin adopted a more cautious stance regarding his support for the Russian leader. He expressed hope that the conflict would end soon, wishing for a return to a peaceful world, yet reaffirmed his loyalty by stating, “Putin is my president.” The ongoing war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, casting a shadow over his public endorsements.