Pushkar was born in Kishineu, Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic – in present-day Moldova – and began competing at the beginning of 2009 with his childhood friend Ivan Mishyn as a co-driver.

Pushkar changed car to a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and employed Ukrainian rally champion Oleksandr Saliuk, Jr. as a coach.

In May 2010, Pushkar won his first race, the Shapovalov Rally Cup, and finished inside the top ten fastest Ukrainian drivers at the end of the season.

He won his first international race, the Romanian Rally Sibiu[5] and finished the season in sixth place in IRC Production.

[8] At the end of the season, Pushkar safely finished at the Rallye du Valais and Tour de Corse, and after scoring 167 points became the European Rally Champion among the Production Car drivers.