Flames defenseman Zadorov speaks out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

“There’s a lot of people who have the same view as me in Russia"

Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov has openly voiced his opposition to his homeland’s invasion of Ukraine.

On the first day of training camp, an interview with YouTube journalist Yuri Dud was released in which Zadorov, who hails from Moscow, Russia, is quoted as saying, “I’m sorry for all the young guys. I’m sorry. Instead of raising the new generation, we sent them to die.”

Zadorov, who has a pinned Instagram post stating, “NO WAR”, also said players, especially those in the KHL sporting uniforms that supported the war in Ukraine are unfortunately a world “that you have to step on your moral principles in order to do what you like.”

Zadorov, who takes great interest in world events, has been closely following the situation in Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

“I was getting more interested in what’s going on in my country, what’s going on in the world. The war, two years ago when it started, it hit me. It was a switch point for me,” Zadorov said in an exclusive interview with The Hockey News on Thursday.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qoUSy-qTks[/embed]

Zadorov is the lone Russian NHLer to boldly speak out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, 2022. Zadorov, who admits his outspokenness may be “a bad thing about me”, said he understands not everyone in his situation is comfortable about taking a stand for various reasons, but that doesn’t deter him.

“I understand the consequences from my Motherland, word’s going to come out and how they’re going to react over there, but I think it’s really important for people to know my point of view on that. And I think it’s important for young guys, Russian players, to know it’s OK to speak out. I just have a hope — maybe it’s a child hope — but I hope my words can change something in this world. I think it’s important to speak out.”

When asked shortly after his on-ice session whether he had be contacted regarding the interview, Zadorov said he had not, but was expecting plenty of reaction.

“I’m definitely aware of the consequences I’m going to get. I probably can’t go back to my Motherland, where I grew up, my city where I grew up, and I’m OK with that,” he said. “I know how it works over there. It’s gonna be big propaganda, TV channels are going to be talking about me, and be pushing the agenda, saying, ‘He’s brainwashed by the West,’ that kind of thing. They’ll say I’m watching CNN too much or something, but I don’t. It’s a clear view. You see bad and you see good things, and that’s my opinion.”

When asked what he hopes to achieve by speaking out, Zadorov said: “I think people should get educated on what’s going on in their country. I think athletes, especially hockey players in this league, have a great voice, and I think they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. Obviously, there’s some guys who don’t want to lose the right to go back to Russia, they still have family, and some guys are afraid for their family, that something will happen to them. There’s a lot of things going on. There’s a harder situation going on in the country compared to Canada and the United States.”

Zadorov, who said the war has impacted his family dynamics as his parents support the regime, has not returned to Russia for the past two off-seasons, and added he does not want to “with this situation”.

“There’s people getting bombed 2000 kilometres away and I’ll be sitting (in Moscow) drinking red wine. I think it’s not moral,” he said.

Although he is something of a lone voice, Zadorov is quick to point out that all Russians should not be painted with the same brush.

“I don’t like how people are reacting here. They’re putting all the Russians in the same box. I think that’s unfair,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who have the same view as me in Russia, and I’m 100 percent sure there’s millions of people who have the same view. They just can’t do anything. … They have no chance to leave the country and find a good job here, work here, make money, feed their families. I’m really fortunate to have the right to be here.”