  We present Ru $L_3$-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS)
measurements of spin-orbit and d-d excitations in exfoliated nanolayers of the
Kitaev spin-liquid candidate RuCl$_3$. Whereas the spin-orbit excitations are
independent of thickness, we observe a pronounced red-shift and broadening of
the d-d excitations in layers with thickness below $\sim$7 nm. Aided by model
calculations, we attribute these effects to distortions of the RuCl$_6$
octahedra near the surface. Our study paves the way towards RIXS investigations
of electronic excitations in various other 2D materials and heterostructures.
