Taking control of the Sakhalin 1 oil and gas project is one of Putin's latest directives

A new operator for the Exxon Mobil Corp.-led Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia's Far East was established by a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Putin's action, which affects Exxon's largest investment in Russia, is similar to the method he used to acquire other energy sites in the country.

According to the decree, the Russian government can decide if foreign investors can keep ....