a quarter million fatalities.

Citation needed. I've seen independent government estimates that as much as 90% of casualties are death. Russia doesn't care so is sending people on "meat assaults" where they well know most will die, and when someone is disabled they don't bother trying to get them medical care. However I have no idea how accurate that claim is - other than it was a government who should have better intelligence than me.

That’s going to be a sore day for Putin!