In The Name of Science bugged. Again apparently.

I'm at the part where you collect the collars for Shcherba, but when I return to him to turn them in, I just get the "what's new around the zone" prompt. I was able to do this whole quest line in my first playthrough months ago, but something's broken now. From a quick search, it seems like this has been a problem that comes and goes and affects different people in different patches. I'm on XBox so no console commands. I reloaded a save from just before I pick up the last collar to get the objective to return to him, and it still doesn't work. This is my last playthrough and I really want to do everything I can, plus get that reward before going into Pripyat since I'm playing on veteran. What are the odds they'll fix this and I'll be able to complete it?