<P> The flag may also be used to cover the caskets of the dead of the military, veterans of previous wars, national artists, and outstanding civilians as determined by the local government . In such cases, the flag must be placed such that the white triangle is at the head and the blue portion covers the right side of the casket . The flag should not be lowered to the grave or allowed to touch the ground, but should be solemnly folded and handed to the heirs of the deceased . </P> <P> Flags must also be raised to half - mast immediately in any area recovering from natural disasters such as a typhoon or an earthquake . </P> <P> The flag of Russia is flown at half - mast and (or) topped by black ribbon: </P> <Ul> <Li> On June 22 as a reminder of the German invasion of the USSR in 1941 . </Li> <Li> On the death of a current or former President of Russia . </Li> <Li> On disasters causing more than 100 killed--across all the country upon Presidential proclamation . </Li> <Li> On disasters causing more than 10 killed--in a suffering region upon proclamation of a Governor . </Li> <Li> On other tragic occasions . For example, national mourning was proclaimed and all the state flags were flown at half - mast after the Polish President's plane crash near Smolensk, Russia despite the number of casualties being slightly fewer than 100 . After the Assassination of Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador in Turkey, in December 2016, the Russian flag was fown in half - mast on all Russian embassies in the world . </Li> </Ul>

When do you put flags at half mast