Exxon removing American staffers from Russia: report

American staffers working for Exxon Mobil are being retrieved from Russia amid its invasion into Ukraine, two people familiar told Reuters.

One of the people told the news agency that one plane traveled to Sakhalin Island in the Far East of Russia to remove American citizens in the country less than one week after Russia launched its invasion into Ukraine. The news outlet noted it was not immediately clear how many people had been evacuated. 

A request for comment from Reuters was not returned by a spokesperson for the natural gas company.

Exxon Mobil has more than 1,000 employees based in Russia, with offices in Moscow, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, according to the natural gas company’s website. On Sakhalin Island, Exxon conducts operations for three offshore gas and oils fields, according to Reuters.

The development comes as just several days after a security alert was issued by the U.S. Embassy in Russia, pressing American citizens to consider leaving the country given the airspace closures to Russian airlines.

“An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines,” the embassy said on Sunday. 

“U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available.”

The Federal Aviation Administration also expanded its no-fly zone last month to include Ukraine, Belarus and a portion of western Russia.

The Hill has reached out to Exxon for comment.