Power grabbers created pure mess during USSR break-up (8)
I believe the answer is:
usurpers
'power grabbers' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'pure mess during ussr break-up' is the wordplay.
'mess' indicates anagramming the letters.
'during' indicates putting letters inside.
'break up' indicates an anagram.
'pure' anagrammed gives 'urpe'.
'ussr' anagrammed gives 'usrs'.
'urpe' put inside 'usrs' is 'USURPERS'.
'created' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for usurpers that I've seen before include "Pursuers of those who wrongfully take positions of others" , "They seize control from others" , "Those illegally seizing power" , "Pursuers taking power wrongfully" , "They seize power or position wrongfully" .)