Rare Soviet weapon resurfaces as Russia faces shortages According to WPtech, Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko says the deployment of the 2S31 Vena reflects growing shortages in Russian artillery. Old system returnsThe 2S31 Vena was originally developed in the late Soviet period as a successor to older mortar systems. Production only began years later and remained limited, with relatively few units ever built, WPtech reports. Most of the systems stayed in Russia, with a small number exported abroad. Kovalenko argues that the weapon’s appearance now is not a sign of strength. “This vehicle appears in the war zone due to a shortage of self-propelled artillery units,” he said. According to WPtech, he believes Russia is increasingly forced to pull older or rare equipment from storage to sustain operations. The system itself combines features of a mortar and artillery gun, capable of firing different types of ammunition. WPtech reports it can deliver a relatively high rate of fire, giving it some battlefield utility. However, Kovalenko noted that its protection is limited and that it suffers from issues typical of equipment produced in small numbers. Rare Soviet weapon resurfaces as Russia faces shortages
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