In the title complex, [RuCl(2)(C(8)H(12))(C(3)H(3)N)(2)], the metal ion is coordinated to centers of each of the double bonds of the cyclo-octa-1,5-diene ligand, to two chloride ions (in cis positions) and to two N-atom donors from two acrylonitrile mol-ecules that complete the coordination sphere for the neutral complex. The coordination about the Ru(II) atom can thus be considered octa-hedral with slight trigonal distortion. The three C atoms of one of the acrylonitrile ligands are disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.581 (13):0.419 (13) ratio.