Ukraine

Might also ne deliberate. Russian army told the guy to not dress as press, so he would get killed and Russia could cry "they killin press!"

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.

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

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.

Probably wasnt individually targeted himself

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

They are now starting to sow sunflowers in ruzzia itself.

Even better than in Ukraine!

He was in a military vehicle.

https://t.me/ssternenko/32092

Yes, Poddubny was driving a Peugeot Landtrek pickup truck, diesel, with Z marking. The car was equipped with EW against FPV.

"Journalist". The shutter button can kill as many brains as a trigger if the intentions are rooted in evil. Fuck him and fuck his lies he told his own people and tried to misinform the rest.