[RuCl2(PPh3)(3)], [{RuCl2(TPPMS)(2)}(2)] and their heterogenized analogs were applied in the selective hydrogenation of 17-keto- and alpha, beta-unsaturated ketosteroids. In basic conditions these complexes selectively hydrogenated the C=O bonds, similarly to the results obtained in the case of alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes. A new method was developed for the synthesis of an expensive steroid alcohol, which can be prepared traditionally in a more complicated way.