[2] Bugakov started his swimming career at the very young age, and came from a sporting family, in which his parents were both trained in the pool as "working reserves" (Trudovie rezervi).

In 2005, he captured a total of seven medals, including his silver for the 100 m backstroke, in short course swimming, at the first-ever Asian Indoor Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

At the 2007 FINA World Championships, Bugakov improved his personal best in the 100 m backstroke, by finishing the preliminary heats under one minute, with a time of 58.74 seconds.

[7] In the 200 m individual medley, Bugakov challenged six other swimmers on the same heat including two-time Olympian Omar Pinzón of Colombia.

[2] He is also a current member of Wasserfreunde 98 in Hanover, Germany under head coach and trainer Frank Lamodke, and speaks fluent English, German, and Uzbek.