A study was undertaken to determine the activity of ruthenium catalysts, obtained by deposition of Ru3(CO)t~ on products of iron oxide-hydroxide calcination modified with alkali metals, in the water-gas shift reaction. The activity depends on the kind of starting iron support, the ruthenium precursor and the amount of alkali metal salts. The most active were the catalysts obtained by deposition of Ru3(CO)x2 on calcination products of 5-FeOOH, both modified and unmodified with alkali metal salts, and of ct-FeOOH modified with alkali metal salts.