Ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-selective acylation of arylpyridines with acyl chlorides via C–H bond cleavage is described. Aromatic acyl chlorides as well as α,β-unsaturated acyl chlorides were coupled with arylpyridines to give aromatic ketones in the presence of [RuCl2(PPh3)3] as a catalyst and potassium carbonate as a base.