▁Def ense . ▁The ▁ceremony ▁is ▁mix ▁of ▁various ▁influ ences , ▁like ▁German , ▁Russian ▁and ▁British , ▁while ▁also ▁incorpor ating ▁elements ▁from ▁the ▁Royal ▁Commonwealth ▁period ▁like ▁the ▁bless ing ▁of ▁the ▁colours ▁in ▁the ▁presence ▁of ▁the ▁Catholic ▁priest ▁or ▁bishop ▁on ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁or ▁before ▁the ▁presentation . ▁The ▁review ing ▁officer ▁is ▁either ▁a ▁general ▁or ▁flag ▁grade ▁officer ▁with ▁higher ▁b illet s ▁and / or ▁command ▁respons ib ilities ▁or ▁a ▁minister / de put y ▁minister ▁or ▁chairman / vice ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁concerned ▁government ▁min istry / ag ency , ▁or ▁even ▁the ▁President ▁himself ▁in ▁special ▁cases . ▁ ▁Post - S ov iet ▁states ▁ ▁The ▁presentation ▁of ▁colours ▁in ▁member ▁countries ▁of ▁the ▁Commonwealth ▁of ▁Independent ▁States , ▁and ▁other ▁post - S ov iet ▁states ▁like ▁the ▁Ukraine , ▁has ▁significant ▁differences ▁with ▁the ▁British . ▁The ▁colours ▁are ▁known ▁in ▁Russia ▁and ▁many ▁other ▁C IS ▁countries ▁as ▁battle ▁flags , ▁which ▁have ▁great ▁importance ▁in ▁the ▁armed ▁forces . ▁In ▁the ▁case ▁of ▁the ▁Russian ▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁this ▁ceremony ▁is ▁ordered ▁by ▁the ▁Minister ▁of ▁Def ence , ▁who ▁signs ▁a ▁dec ree ▁award ing ▁the ▁colours ▁to ▁a ▁unit , ▁command ▁or ▁educational ▁institution . ▁Dec rees ▁for ▁the ▁grant ing ▁of ▁colours ▁to ▁the ▁uniform ed ▁forces ▁of ▁the ▁Min ist ries ▁of ▁the ▁In ternal ▁Affairs ▁( Pol ice , ▁D rug ▁Service ▁and ▁M igration ▁Service ), ▁Justice ▁( F eder