Reaction of the elements yields black, lustrous, air insensitive crystals of the subhalides Bi₄RuI₂ (tetragonal, I4/m, a = 1183.9(2) pm, c = 669.7(2) pm. V = 938.66 ̇ 10⁶ pm³) and Bi₄RuBr₂ (monoclinic, I112/m, a = 1211.9(2) pm, b = 1072.6(2) pm, c = 663.9(2) pm, y = 91.63(1)°, V = 862.64 ̇ 10⁶pm³). The structures of the homöotypic compounds contain _∞¹[RuBi_8/2] strands of face-sharing square antiprisms. Halogen atoms lie above the edges of alternate Bi₄ squares. Thereby chemical bonding differs significantly within the two types of Bi₄ squares Though the Ru atoms on the central axis of the strand of antiprisms form pairs, extended Hückel calculations give no evidence of Ru-Ru bonds.