“Bygone world power, for short” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.USSR is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Bygone world power, for short”. It was last seen in the puzzle of July 29, 2025, where it runs at 1 Down and fills 4 squares. It crosses 4 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.