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Letter bound to have shown sympathy (6)

Ross
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'letter bound' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for russia that I've seen before include "Country of the former USSR" , "James Bond novel and film: 'From . . . . . . with Love'" , "East European state" , "Putin's country" , "Eastern European state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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