The village, which is the center of the rural administration, is located in the northeastern part of the Staromaynsky district, 50 km from Stara Mayna. 3 km northwest of the village lies an ancient burial mound from the Bronze Age, and there are four more Bulgarian settlements in the vicinity.

The history of this ancient village began in the second half of the 17th century. It was founded by Mordovian settlers and was originally called Yarkul, which translates from Tatar as "lake with steep banks," as it consists of the words "Yar" (cliff) and "Kul" (lake).

In 1776, a wooden church was built in the village with an altar in the name of the Archangel Michael, and the village received a new name, Arkhangelskoye. For over a century, residents could choose between two names until they settled on Russian Yurtkul. However, the name Arkhangelskoye still appears on pre-revolutionary maps and documents, although it is not used today.

In 1869, a stone, warm, five-domed, three-altar church was built in the village, designed by architect F. N. Malinovsky, funded by the parishioners. The main altar was dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the right side altar to the Transfiguration of the Lord, and the left to the Kazan Mother of God.

With the advent of collectivization, much changed. The church suffered significant destruction: its bells were removed from the bell tower, including a large bell weighing 120 poods, according to the memories of the old-timers. At great risk, residents managed to save some icons by secretly dismantling them in their homes. They also preserved the church crucifix, which is now in the church of the village of Kokryat, where the surviving icons were later transferred.