Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, German banker Matthias Warnig and former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl have resigned from the board of Russian oil producer and exporter Rosneft.

Rosneft acknowledged the resignations in a statement, thanking the three for “never-ending support” and “significant input to developing international business”.

Rosneft’s website this week still listed other foreign nationals as board members, including former Credit Suisse banker Hans-Joerg Rudloff.

Rudloff, however, clarified in an email to Upstream that he resigned from the Rosneft board on 26 February, shortly after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. He said he resigned in writing to the chairman and chief executive of the Rosneft board and advised the secretary of the board.

Rosneft confirmed receipt of his email and acknowledged receipt of an original letter signed by Rudloff to validate his resignation, he said in the message to Upstream.

Since then, Rudloff has not been taking part in any board activity with Rosneft, he said.

Rosneft is Russia's biggest producer and exporter of oil.

(Correction: Upstream has updated and corrected this article to include emailed statements from a former Rosneft board member that clarify he had notified Rosneft of his resignation in February and has not served on the board since then.)

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