Vladimir breaks out his BIG gun

Vladimir Putin has a new heavy to lead his troops in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian dictator reportedly just brought an obese general out of retirement to aid in his country’s battle in the region, following the loss of other senior officers in the conflict.

The beefy military honcho (left), identified only as Gen. Pavel, 67, will lead Russian special forces in the region after the previous commander was seriously injured in an artillery strike, according to London’s Daily Star.

A senior intelligence source told the tabloid that Putin was “scraping the barrel” by calling on the general, who weighs in at an estimated 280 pounds, reportedly eats five meals daily — washed down by at least a liter of vodka — and needs a two sets of body armor to cover his girth.

“Most of [Putin’s] best and battlehardened senior commanders have been killed or injured fighting in Ukraine, so he is resorting to sending second-rate officers to the front who don’t last very long,” the source said.

“He is now dragging generals out of retirement, and one of those is General Pavel.

“Putin is like a Mafia boss who no one can refuse to obey. If a retired general gets a message from Putin saying Mother Russia needs you to fight in Ukraine, there is not much you can do.

“There is no escape from Russia thanks to the sanctions,” the source added, referring to restrictions that Western nations have put on Russians over the invasion.

Pavel had been a soldier for more than four decades when he was promoted to commander, the Daily Star said, adding that he retired after serving in Syria about five years ago. Pavel is reportedly a veteran of Russia’s war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

He was living in a Moscow suburb before he was sent to fight last month, the paper reported.