Escaping territories of terror: Protective strategies against intersectional violence at checkpoints

Abstract

This chapter investigates the protective strategies adopted at wartime checkpoints by forced migrants attempting to escape from the occupied territories of Ukraine. It explores how violence at checkpoints is intensified by the intersection of Ukrainian identity and gender, and reveals how military checkpoints, integrated into the urban landscape, serve as literal filters of the occupation regime, contributing to the creation of “territories of terror.” The study demonstrates how migrants craft “safe identities,” temporary masks designed specifically to survive encounters at checkpoints. Additionally, it highlights that, in modern warfare, digital footprints become a crucial risk factor, making the control of digital identities as important as the adoption of performative strategies for safer passage through checkpoints.