eeeehhh

This explaination wouldn't explain why the figure is so much higher than when compared to other conflicts in the world.

No, one side of a conflict cannot ignore the rules simply because the other side does.

It also seems an especially poor argument when one side is a nuclear-armed, highly modern military power and the other a lighltly armed militia.

Even if this was true, it would not make them a legitimate target unless they were directly engaged in fighting. Journalists are even protected when engaging in explicit propaganda for example.

https://casebook.icrc.org/case-study/protection-journalists