Capitals, Russia star Alex Ovechkin on Ukraine invasion: 'Please, no more war'

Ahead of Saturday's afternoon game at the Philadelphia Flyers, Ovechkin made his first public comments following the invasion after Washington made him unavailable to media members on Thursday.

"It's a hard situation. I have family back in Russia and it is scary moments," the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer explained on Friday, according to The Athletic. "But we can't do anything. We just hope it going to be end soon and everything is going to be all right."

Ovechkin continued during his comments: "Please, no more war. It doesn't matter who is in the war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries — I think we live in a world, like, we have to live in peace and a great world."

A reporter asked Ovechkin if he still supports Putin despite the disturbing images coming out of Ukraine. 

"Well, he is my president," Ovechkin responded. "But how I said, I am not in politics. I am an athlete and you know, how I said, I hope everything is going to be done soon. It's (a) hard situation right now for both sides and everything. Everything I hope is going to end. I'm not in control of this situation."

As The Athletic noted, Ovechkin is a native of the Russian capital of Moscow and routinely spends time in the country during NHL offseasons. Deadspin's Sean Beckwith wrote Ovechkin may avoid speaking out against Putin due to fear "for his family" still in Russia, but Friday served as a reminder the all-time great won't be able to duck questions on the subject going forward.