Ukraine and Ohio are very similar in many ways

As a native Ohioan, when I visited Ukraine in 2019, I was quite disappointed at its scenery. The culture was wonderful and very unique, but much of the countryside, beaches, and even the atmosphere of cities reminded me a lot of Ohio.

For example, here are 2 random streetview images

Poltava Oblast, Ukraine М03 - Google Maps

Lucas County, Ohio I-75 - Google Maps

Likewise, the beaches down to the type of sand felt very similar, except its salt water in Ukraine. The waters in both the Black Sea and Lake Erie are murky gray/brown.

Beach in Mariupol https://c8.alamy.com/comp/CEJ4P7/public-beach-in-mariupol-ukraine-large-azovstal-factory-is-right-near-CEJ4P7.jpg

Beach in Cleveland

https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/ZZ537IXX4JGLVEQIEJVLXRKD3I.JPEG

Lastly, even though the architecture in the cities were very different, cities in Ohio both had a "rust belt" feel and also a sense of despair/population decline

Zaporizhia, Ukraine 131 Peremohy St - Google Maps

East Cleveland, Ohio https://maps.app.goo.gl/k8hTTCrXiQ5ioQhN6

Lastly, both Ukraine and Ohio used to be thriving more back in the 50s and 60 and still have skeletons of their industrial past

Youngstown, Ohio https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsF7WQZPZ63BHpyErRGrg-ZfsDDrwVI4BgQQ&s

Mariupol,Donetsk

https://assets.weforum.org/article/image/_odQG3MgZHvl8xMjkmtlY0NiT5I6N8zOFYYHEP8Wgz8.jpg