Vladimir Putin too scared to axe suspected coup plotter General Armageddon, it was claimed

VLADIMIR Putin is too scared to axe a suspected coup plotter dubbed General Armageddon, it was claimed last night.

General Sergei Surovikin has been quizzed over allegations he had prior knowledge of ­Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion.

Rumours swirled yesterday that the 56-year-old military hardman was even being interrogated in Moscow’s grim Lefortovo Prison over what he knew.

But Moscow sources say weakened Putin will not punish Surovikin — because he is too popular with troops who may turn their guns on the Russian tyrant.

Surovikin has not been seen publicly since claims emerged that he knew of ­Prigozhin’s bid to oust ­Russia’s disastrous defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, over the Ukraine campaign flop.

One source said: “Shoigu is afraid of Surovikin’s return.

“Justifying himself to Putin, he accused Surovikin of ­treason — but they are afraid to arrest Surovikin because the officers are for him.”

Putin’s dilemma over how to purge his mutinous ranks while Ukraine makes battlefield gains opened more cracks in his power base.

And reports later suggested Surovikin — far from having been arrested — was merely lying low.

Surovikin — a former commander of forces in Ukraine — was switched to running Russia’s air force in January when Putin was first spooked by coup rumours.

His daughter Veronika said yesterday: “Nothing happened to the Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces.

“No one arrested him and everyone is at their jobs.”