 Such countries recognized Estonian diplomats and consuls who still functioned in many countries in the name of their former governments.These aging diplomats persisted in this anomalous situation until the ultimate restoration of Estonia's independence in 1991.The Russian Federation, the successor state to the Soviet Union, subsequently ended its military presence in the Republic of Estonia by withdrawing its last troops in August 1994, and relinquishing its control of the nuclear reactor facilities in Paldiski in September 1995.