Hlushko was born 4 April 1882 in the village of Nova Basan, Chernihiv Oblast.

Hlushko was mobilized during the First World War and served at the Caucasian front in 1916–1917.

He was arrested by Kolchak's White forces in 1919 for Ukrainian activism.

Accused of anti-Soviet activities and "designs to split Far East from Russia and give it to Japan", Hlushko was sentenced in Chita in 1924 to 5 years imprisonment.

After serving the term, he worked as a technician in the Far East and Tajikistan.