diff --git a/.github/workflows/protect-default-branch.yaml b/.github/workflows/protect-default-branch.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61f85f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/protect-default-branch.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+name: Validate PR head branch
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - "ros2"
+
+jobs:
+  check-head-branch:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check allowed branches
+        run: |
+          pattern="^[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-[0-9]{8}$" # This regex matches the X.X.X-YYYYMMDD pattern
+          if [[ "${{ github.head_ref }}" == *"hotfix"* ]]; then
+            echo "PR from a branch containing 'hotfix' is allowed."
+            exit 0
+          elif [[ "${{ github.head_ref }}" =~ $pattern ]]; then
+            echo "PR from a branch matching X.X.X-YYYYMMDD pattern is allowed."
+            exit 0
+          else
+            echo "PRs must come from branches containing 'hotfix' phrase or matching X.X.X-YYYYMMDD pattern."
+            exit 1
+          fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-candidate.yaml b/.github/workflows/release-candidate.yaml
index 1b8888a6..98bc79b9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-candidate.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-candidate.yaml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
           repository_owner: husarion
           repository_name: ${{ matrix.repo }}
           new_branch_name: ${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}
-          new_branch_ref: ros2
+          new_branch_ref: ros2-devel
           access_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT}}
 
   update_tags_in_compose:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
           wait_interval: 10
           client_payload: |
             {
-              "target_branch": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
+              "branch_name": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
               "image_tag": "humble-${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}"
             }
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-project.yaml b/.github/workflows/release-project.yaml
index 132de2de..48b98d95 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-project.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-project.yaml
@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@ on:
     inputs:
       version:
         description: Release version, must match release candidate version. IMPORTANT - required format
-          `X.X.X`, eg `2.0.1`.
+          `X.X.X`, (e.g. `2.0.1`).
         required: true
       date:
         description: Release date stamp, must match release candidate date. IMPORTANT - required format
-          `YYYYMMDD`, eg `20240430`.
+          `YYYYMMDD`, (e.g. `20240430`).
         required: true
       release_name:
         description: Name of the release to be created. Version in the first place is recommended (e.g.
-          `2.0.0-alpha`).
+          `2.0.1-alpha`).
         required: true
       automatic_mode:
         type: boolean
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ jobs:
           wait_interval: 10
           client_payload: |
             {
-              "target_branch": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
+              "release_candidate": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
               "version": "${{ github.event.inputs.version }}",
               "release_name": "${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }}",
               "automatic_mode": "${{ github.event.inputs.automatic_mode }}",
@@ -63,23 +63,44 @@ jobs:
         with:
           owner: husarion
           repo: panther_ros
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}   # Use the default GITHUB_TOKEN for local repository
+          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} # Use the default GITHUB_TOKEN for local repository
           workflow_file_name: release-repository.yaml
           ref: ${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}
           wait_interval: 10
           client_payload: |
             {
-              "target_branch": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
+              "release_candidate": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
               "version": "${{ github.event.inputs.version }}",
               "release_name": "${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }}",
               "automatic_mode": "${{ github.event.inputs.automatic_mode }}",
               "prerelease": "${{ github.event.inputs.prerelease }}"
             }
 
+  rebuild_and_push_docker_images:
+    name: Rebuild panther docker images with new version
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    needs:
+      - release_panther_ros
+    steps:
+      - name: Trigger repository build workflow
+        uses: convictional/trigger-workflow-and-wait@v1.6.1
+        with:
+          owner: husarion
+          repo: panther-docker
+          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PAT }}
+          workflow_file_name: ros-docker-image.yaml
+          ref: ${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}
+          wait_interval: 10
+          client_payload: |
+            {
+              "build_type": "development",
+              "target_distro": "humble"
+            }
+
   release_panther_docker:
     name: Release panther-docker repository
     needs:
-      - release_panther_ros
+      - rebuild_and_push_docker_images
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
       - name: Trigger repository release workflow
@@ -93,7 +114,7 @@ jobs:
           wait_interval: 10
           client_payload: |
             {
-              "target_branch": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
+              "release_candidate": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
               "version": "${{ github.event.inputs.version }}",
               "date": "${{ github.event.inputs.date }}",
               "release_name": "${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }}",
@@ -101,8 +122,8 @@ jobs:
               "prerelease": "${{ github.event.inputs.prerelease }}"
             }
 
-  build_and_push_docker_images:
-    name: Build panther docker images
+  tag_docker_images:
+    name: Tag panther docker images as stable
     if: ${{ fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode) == true }}
     needs:
       - release_panther_docker
@@ -143,7 +164,7 @@ jobs:
           wait_interval: 10
           client_payload: |
             {
-              "target_branch": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
+              "release_candidate": "${{ env.RC_BRANCH_NAME }}",
               "version": "${{ github.event.inputs.version }}",
               "release_name": "${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }}",
               "automatic_mode": "${{ github.event.inputs.automatic_mode }}",
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-repository.yaml b/.github/workflows/release-repository.yaml
index ed1b53d3..a5375e55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-repository.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-repository.yaml
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ name: Release repository
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
-      target_branch:
-        description: Target branch for the release.
+      release_candidate:
+        description: Branch name of the release candidate.
         required: true
       version:
         description: New version (used for tag and package versioning).
@@ -30,14 +30,15 @@ jobs:
     env:
       GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       MAIN_BRANCH: ros2
+      DEVEL_BRANCH: ros2-devel
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout
+      - name: Checkout to rc branch
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch }}
+          ref: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate }}
 
-      - name: Create release candidate
-        id: create_release_candidate
+      - name: Catkin release
+        id: catkin_release
         uses: at-wat/catkin-release-action@v1
         with:
           version: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
@@ -45,49 +46,49 @@ jobs:
           git_email: action-bot@action-bot.com
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-      - name: Create pull request
+      - name: Catkin release - create PR
         run: |
           gh pr create \
-          --base ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch }} \
-          --head ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.created_branch }} \
-          --title "Release ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.version}}" \
+          --base ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate }} \
+          --head ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.created_branch }} \
+          --title "Release ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.version}}" \
           --body "This PR incorporates package(s) version and changelog update."
 
-      - name: Merge pull request
+      - name: Catkin release - merge PR
         if: ${{ fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode) == true }}
         run: |
-          gh pr merge ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.created_branch }} \
+          gh pr merge ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.created_branch }} \
           --merge --delete-branch
 
-      - name: Checkout to main
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode)
+      - name: Checkout to main branch
+        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(inputs.automatic_mode)
           == true }}
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           ref: ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }}
 
-      - name: Create pull request to main
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode)
+      - name: Create PR to main branch
+        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(inputs.automatic_mode)
           == true }}
         run: |
           gh pr create \
           --base ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }} \
-          --head ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch }} \
-          --title "Release ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.version}} to ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }}" \
+          --head ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate }} \
+          --title "Release ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.version}} to ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }}" \
           --body "This PR incorporates package(s) version and changelog update."
 
-      - name: Merge pull request to main
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode)
+      - name: Merge PR to main branch
+        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(inputs.automatic_mode)
           == true }}
         run: |
-          gh pr merge ${{ github.event.inputs.target_branch }} \
+          gh pr merge ${{ github.event.inputs.release_candidate }} \
           --merge --delete-branch
 
       - name: Create prerelease
         if: ${{ fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode) == true && fromJSON(github.event.inputs.prerelease)
           == true}}
         run: |
-          gh release create ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.version }} \
+          gh release create ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.version }} \
           --target ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }} \
           --title ${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }} \
           --generate-notes \
@@ -97,7 +98,19 @@ jobs:
         if: ${{ fromJSON(github.event.inputs.automatic_mode) == true && fromJSON(github.event.inputs.prerelease)
           == false}}
         run: |
-          gh release create ${{ steps.create_release_candidate.outputs.version }} \
+          gh release create ${{ steps.catkin_release.outputs.version }} \
           --target ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }} \
           --title ${{ github.event.inputs.release_name }} \
           --generate-notes
+
+      - name: Checkout to devel branch
+        if: ${{ env.DEVEL_BRANCH != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(inputs.automatic_mode) == true }}
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ env.DEVEL_BRANCH }}
+
+      - name: Update devel branch
+        if: ${{ env.DEVEL_BRANCH != env.MAIN_BRANCH && fromJSON(inputs.automatic_mode) == true }}
+        run: |
+          git pull origin ${{ env.MAIN_BRANCH }}
+          git push origin ${{ env.DEVEL_BRANCH }}