A court in Kyiv will decide the fate of the Ferris wheel in Podil today

The Kyiv Commercial Court is set to put an end to the long-standing dispute over the Ferris Wheel on Kontraktova Square on June 3. The court hearing, which will consider the issue of dismantling the attraction, is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

This was reported by monument keeper Dmytro Perov.

The wheel has been standing on Podil since 2017

The Ferris Wheel was installed on Kontraktova Square back in 2017 as a temporary New Year’s attraction. However, after the permit expired in January 2018, the structure was never dismantled.

The prosecutor’s office believes that this is an unauthorized occupation of communal land in the historical part of the capital.

In addition, at the end of 2025, the Podilskyi District Court banned the operation of the attraction due to the emergency condition of the structure. In particular, the investigation stated that the wooden support beams were rotting.

Also in the case, two Kyiv City State Administration officials have been suspected of inaction.

Owner denies accident

The owner of the wheel, French entrepreneur Louis Toutin, disagrees with the prosecutor’s office’s arguments and insists that the attraction was placed legally.

Under pressure from law enforcement officers, he began dismantling the structure back in March 2026, but the process has actually stopped – the metal frame still remains on the square.

Earlier, during one of the meetings, Toutin stated that he may appeal to an international court due to the actions of the prosecutor’s office and “coercion to dismantle”.

The decision may become a precedent

The dispute over the Ferris wheel in Podil has been going on for several years and concerns not only a specific attraction, but also the issue of using public space in the historical center of Kyiv.

Lawyers and activists note that the decision of the Commercial Court may become an important precedent regarding the rules for placing temporary structures and attractions in the capital.