A Russian programmer known for his striking resemblance to Leonardo DiCaprio has been deployed to participate in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, after losing modeling opportunities due to weight gain.
Roman Burtzev gained viral attention before the outbreak of the Ukraine war, when he posted a picture on a dating site in 2016. Although Burtzev’s filmography doesn’t include any Hollywood productions, one might easily mistake him for a red carpet fixture.
Sporting blue eyes and light brown hair, Burtzev closely resembled the Hollywood icon, DiCaprio. When Burtzev’s image went viral, DiCaprio had just earned the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “The Revenant” in 2016, making it an opportune moment to bear a likeness to the actor.
At 33 years old, Burtzev was eight years younger than DiCaprio when his picture took off. This did not deter modeling agencies from engaging him for photoshoots.
Burtzev capitalized on his resemblance to DiCaprio by leaving his programming position to become a full-time impersonator, earning a substantial income.
However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a downturn in his modeling career, ultimately causing him to leave the field.
In 2021, Burtzev shared with The Mirror: “The problems began with the introduction of restrictions in April 2020 and now people have forgotten about me.”
He mentioned missing modeling gigs due to weight gain, despite trying “many methods for weight loss.”
Following the start of the military action in Ukraine, Burtzev contracted with Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
He told Gazeta.Ru: “I signed the contract on September 19. It was a difficult decision, I thought about it for several months. I can’t say where I am or what I’m doing.”
Burtzev’s contract, including battle training, ensures him $20,000 upfront and $2,106 monthly while on the frontline. If he were to die in combat, his family would receive up to $28,000.
The conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022. As it nears its third winter, the situation remains dire.
According to an October 22 update from the United Nations, Ukraine’s population has dropped by around 10 million since the invasion began, due to millions fleeing for safety and the impacts of war-related fatalities and reduced fertility rates.