Global industrial gases giant Air Products is one of about three dozen American companies continuing to do business as usual in Russia, which last month invaded neighboring Ukraine.

That continues despite a plea Wednesday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that such companies exit Russia.

In a speech to Congress, Zelenskyy urged lawmakers to put pressure on American businesses that continue operations in Russia.

“American companies must leave Russia’s market because it is flooded with our blood,” Zelenskyy said, according to the Associated Press.

Russia invaded Feb. 24, prompting severe economic sanctions from the U.S. and its allies amid the ongoing war.

A spokesperson for Air Products, a Fortune 500 company based in the Lehigh Valley, did not reply to a request for comment.

Air Products is among companies that have made no announced change to their operations in Russia, according to a list compiled by Yale University. The AP, in a story this week, said the Yale School of Management list showed 147 U.S. corporations announced they are pulling out of Russia entirely. Another 173 U.S. companies said they would suspend operations there.

With support in the West strong for Ukraine, and threats of boycotts of companies still doing business there, another roughly 70 American companies have said they are scaling back operations or holding off new investment, but remaining.

Zelenskyy would prefer Air Products and the remaining companies pull out completely.

“Make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy our people in Ukraine” and for the “destruction of our country and the destruction of Europe,” he told Congress.

Air Products, which earned $2.1 billion in profit during fiscal year 2021 on more than $10.3 billion in sales, obtains slightly more than 50% of its sales from Europe, Africa and Asia, excluding China. Its annual report does not break down revenue from Russia, a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The company lists two subsidiaries in Russia.

Among its investments, Air Products said in a 2021 news release that its technology and equipment are operating at a liquified natural gas facility in northwest Siberia, the largest one in Russia. Air Products’ three heat exchangers for the plant, which went online in 2017, were producing 16.5 million metric tons per year.

The Yale report said Air Products operates two offices with 130 employees and a plant in the Rostov region.

Gary Bender of Quakertown, who formerly worked in finance roles for Air Products, said Thursday the company’s massive heat exchangers, which he said resemble a space rocket on its side, provide Russia with plenty of export revenue. He said an Air Products’ pullout could send a message to Putin.

“The only leverage Putin has is his [liquified natural gas] exports,” said Bender, “and that could hit him in the pocketbook.”

Yale’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, who has kept the list of corporate actions in Russia, told The Washington Post that those companies are helping to fund the “Russian war machine,” as well as hampering the sanctions in place against Russia.

In 2018, Air Products CEO Seifi Ghasemi attended an investment forum in Saudi Arabia amid controversy over Saudi agents’ killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Spokesperson Art George said then the company empathized with people affected by the news. He also said Air Products has invested in Saudi Arabia, enabling the production of high value products that help society be more productive.

“We believe our presence gives us an ability to make a positive contribution over the long term,” George said.

After Zelenskyy’s virtual address, area congressional representatives issued statements generally expressing support for Ukraine and in broadening the sanctions in place by the U.S. and allies, with no specific mention of American business in general or Air Products in particular. Messages left with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, whose 7th District includes the Lehigh Valley, as well as U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, were not returned Thursday.

Air Products, which has its headquarters in Upper Macungie Township, has products in 53 countries outside the U.S., including Russia. It employs about 2,000 people in the region and more than 20,000 worldwide.

Morning Call journalist Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com.