Russia’s Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike says he has survived six months on the front line in Ukraine – and makes sick boast about the effect it has had on his life

By WILL STEWART

Published: 17:31 BST, 7 April 2025 | Updated: 18:10 BST, 7 April 2025

A Russian who won a string of acting and advertising roles as a Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike has survived his first six months as a soldier on the front line.

He is fighting for dictator Vladimir Putin, and his military call sign is – DiCaprio.

More than six months into his military service, he claims the war has helped him get in shape due to meagre military rations.

Roman Burtsev, 42, won modelling gigs playing the Hollywood star, 50, but then saw the lucrative work drop off.

The doppelgänger was initially hit by the pandemic when he put on too much weight to convince as DiCaprio.

He was instead forced to take odd jobs at a marketplace and hardware store, but was short of money.

But now Burtsev says he has lost more than 44lbs since last October when he went to war weighing 196lbs.

He has not disclosed his location but says he plans to be home in September.

Roman Burtsev, 42, won modelling gigs playing the Hollywood star, 50, but then saw the lucrative work drop off

Burtsev is fighting for dictator Vladimir Putin and his military call sign is DiCaprio. Burtsev says he has lost more than 44lbs since last October when he went to war weighing 196lbs

More than six months into his military service, Burtsev claims the war has helped him get in shape due to meagre military rations.

So far he has avoided the fate of hundreds of thousands of Russians sent to Putin’s war – returning in coffins from the cannon fodder front line.

By signing a contract and undergoing training, he qualified for a £16,000 payment, followed by £1,625 a month while he remains alive on the front line.

If he is killed, his family could qualify for up to £99,000.

Earlier, he had been an IT specialist.

But before going to war, the lonely Russian DiCaprio still lived with his parents and a cat in a rented state-provided flat in Podolsk, near Moscow

Weight has been an issue since 2016 when he started cloning DiCaprio despite his extra bulk

Burtsev had hoped that his role as a lookalike would bring him fame, fortune – and a wife and children

Weight has been an issue since 2016 when he started cloning DiCaprio despite his extra bulk.

He had hoped that his role as a lookalike would bring him fame, fortune – and a wife and children.

But before going to war, the lonely Russian DiCaprio still lived with his parents and a cat in a rented state-provided flat in Podolsk, near Moscow.

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Russia’s Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike says he has survived six months on the front line in Ukraine – and makes sick boast about the effect it has had on his life

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