The American actor turned Russian propagandist, Steven Seagal, declared in a new documentary that he is willing to fight for Russian President Vladimir Putin and even "die if need be."
The documentary, titled In the Name of Justice, aired on the Russian state-controlled platform Smotrim on October 10.
Seagal became a household name as an action star in the 1980s and 1990s. However, in the past decade, he may be better known as a vocal supporter of Russia and Putin, as his Hollywood career shifted to low-budget, direct-to-TV movies.
According to the Kyiv Independent, the actor obtained Russian citizenship in 2016 and was later appointed by Russia's Foreign Ministry as a "Special Representative for Russia-U.S. Cultural Links, Cultural and Historical Heritage" in 2018.
In 2021, Seagal reportedly moved to Moscow, partly to avoid fines from the U.S. government. He has also faced accusations of sexual assault from multiple women.
Seagal has been a consistent supporter of Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and was one of the few Western figures to attend Putin's inauguration for his fifth term as president in May 2024.
In the documentary, Seagal is shown visiting various Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, including Mariupol. Throughout the film, he interacts with civilians and repeats Kremlin propaganda, with the assistance of a translator and voiceover, as he does not appear to speak Russian.
Seagal also visits Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those identified as Azov fighters.
In one scene, Seagal reveals that he wrote a letter to Putin, stating, "Now we will see who our true compatriots and friends are, and who our enemies are. I will stand by my president and fight on his side."
Despite his declarations, there is no indication that the 72-year-old Seagal plans to participate in any military activities or combat.
