UPDATE (putting this in a separate reply so you'll see it): So I just dusted the laptop again, it actually performs somewhat well, turns out my first pass where I also changed the thermal paste didn't get all the dust.
EDIT: This probably won't hold, I've been seeing some γαμάτα deals for newer ThinkPads here lately.
Not "lots of", more Russian soldiers died than Ukrainians, as is typical for this conflict.