Sure but if you're in the military vehicle with military personnel your presence doesn't somehow disqualify the military vehicle from being a legitimate target.

He wasn't wearing UN blue with PRESS patches, instead wearing Russian camo. That's a big no no. Even non standard RA kit like black body armor is better. But you gotta wear white PRESS patches if you don't want to be mistaken for a combatant. That being said, all embedded correspondents take the risk. No situation is ideal, but a technical with military markings is absolutely fair game.

I agree no journalist should ever be targeted, regardless of their bias. Knowing Poddubny shouldn't be targeted is why I know a NYT journalist won't be targeted. They are in live combat zones though, and sadly people uninvolved do die in war.

Source: work in doc/investigative journalism

Here's an example of what his kit should look like:

participating in the conflict in some way

On the photo he looks like a Russian soldier.

He was wearing uniform, so combatant. Also, because of his propaganda many innocent people died. The hit on him is 100% justified.

Look at the picture and his history of working in the field. He cosplayed as Russian soldiers, traveled in military vehicles and made no effort to mark himself or others as press or journalist. There is no reasonable way anyone not familiar with him would have been able to pick him out from other soldiers he was embedded with. Probably the only thing that would mark him as press would be him talking to a camera.

When their primary responsibilities are pushing propaganda they become enemy combatants. The pen is mightier, after all.

Participating in state run war propaganda is just as deadly as shooting a rifle.

Probably wasnt individually targeted himself