Another strong voice of Russian sport speaking out for peace in Ukraine. After tennis player Andrey Rublev, this time it was hockey player Alex Ovechkin who pleaded on Friday for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, where the Kremlin launched a massive attack. Ovechkin is one of his country’s biggest stars to play in the United States, in the NHL. And his voice is likely to carry in the public opinion of his country.
“I hope it will stop”
The 36-year-old left-winger, captain of the Washington Capitals, spoke following practice in Philadelphia. “Please, no more war,” he implored. “No matter who is at war, whether it’s Russia, Ukraine or other countries, I think we have to live in peace. »
“It’s a complicated situation. I have family in Russia and these are scary times. But we cannot do nothing. I just hope it will stop and everything will be fine, ”he said.
Ovechkin led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in 2018, and finished as the league’s top scorer a record nine times. On Thursday, Russia launched an offensive once morest Ukraine to invade the country, and fighting was taking place as far as the capital Kyiv on Friday.
