Roman Leshchenko was born in the city of Siverskodonetsk, Donetsk region. He studied at Ternivska secondary school, Donetsk region. Later, he graduated from the Siverskodonetsk Chemical-Mechanical College of the East Ukrainian National University with a degree in "Design, production and maintenance of electrical engineering products", obtaining the qualification of an electronics technician. He also graduated from the Kramatorsk Higher Vocational Machine-Building School, where he received the profession of a crane operator in metallurgical production. He worked as a crane operator in an electric steelmaking shop, and later in the Pervomaisky Rayavtodor branch.

During the full-scale invasion, he served as a sniper inspector of the third commandant's group of the commandant's department of the department of organizational and mobilization work and daily activities of the military unit. Unfortunately, the defender's life was cut short due to a serious illness.