The USSR has a rather frightening history when it comes to photo manipulation. Over time they’ve decided to use their photo manipulation skills for good instead of, well disappearing people.
In 1987 Glasnost and Perestroika were in full effect. So the tools that would have been used to remove an “enemy of the people” like Leon Trotsky were being used to restore photos. It’s a long tedious process that involves drum scanners and computers with reel-to-reel memory. Remember this video next time you’re complaining about how difficult it is to remove red eye.