Hard once a state captures a soldier (6)
I believe the answer is:
hussar
'soldier' is the definition.
(hussar is a kind of soldier)
'hard once a state captures a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'hard' could be 'h' (abbreviation used in pencil classifications) and 'h' is located in the answer.
'a' is within the answer.
'state' could be 'ussr' (USSR is an example) and 'ussr' is found within the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hussar that I've seen before include "Horseman" , "one often up on a charge" , "Soldier in a light cavalry regiment" , "Member of a light cavalry regiment" , "Cavalryman, originally Hungarian" .)