Ruski Krstur (Керестур Руський; Kerestur Ruskyi; Hungarian: Bácz-Keresztur). See Google Map. A town (2002 pop 5,213) situated 50 km northwest of Novi Sad, in the Bačka region of Serbia, that is inhabited almost exclusively by Ukrainians. Established in 1746, it was the first settlement of Bačka Ukrainians. Since 1751 a Greek Catholic parish has been active there. Published there have been the weeklies Ruski novini (1931–41) and Ruske slovo (from 1945–67); the children's magazines Nasha zahradka (1938–41) and Pyonerska zahradka (from 1947); the literary and arts journals Shvetlosts (1952–4, and then from 1966), Tvorchosts, and Visnik kulturi; and almanacs and school texts. A gymnasium at which Ukrainian is taught was established in 1945. The town also boasts an amateur theater group, a museum, a cultural center, and a cultural and educational association named in honor of Taras Shevchenko.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]