You're reading: Mobile operators deny sending SMSs that subscribers are participating in riots

MTS-Ukraine and Kyivstar mobile operators have said that they are not involved in sending SMS messages to their subscribers with information that they are registered as participants of mass riots. 

“Today MTS Ukraine started receiving complaints from our subscribers in downtown Kyiv who received SMS messages from the 111 number containing the same text: “Dear subscriber, you are registered as participant of mass riots.” We claim that we’re not involved in this SMS sending,” the press service of the mobile operator reported.

MTS-Ukraine said that the SMS messages were sent using equipment that does not belong to the company.

“The operator is looking for possible ways of preventing such SMS sending in the future,” MTS-Ukraine said.

Kyivstar denied being involved in SMS messages to its subscribers with their alleged registration as participants of mass riots.

“We know about equipment [so-called pirate base stations] which allow the sending of SMS messages and calling phone numbers of subscribers of any operators in a certain district,” Director for Corporate Communications of Kyivstar Mykhailo Shurakov said.

He added that telecommunications operators do not have equipment to prevent the operation of such stations or the possibility of tracking them.