Intimate devil embraces Russians' leader (6)

I believe the answer is:

friend

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'intimate' is the definition.
(intimate can mean a friend)

'devil embraces russians' leader' is the wordplay.
'devil' becomes 'fiend' (synonyms).
'embraces' is an insertion indicator.
'russians' leader' becomes 'r' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'fiend' enclosing 'r' is 'FRIEND'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for friend that I've seen before include "Ally, supporter" , "allowed to pass by the guard" , "Companion; Quaker" , "Person regarded with trust and affection" , "One who gives proof of genuine regard" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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