diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 4b125f9..247fd61 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 name: Release Workflow
 
 on:
-  release:
-    types: [created]
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      tag:
+        description: 'Tag for the release (format: v{x}.{y}.{z})'
+        required: true
+        default: ''
+      release_name:
+        description: 'Release name/title'
+        required: true
+        default: ''
 
 jobs:
   build-and-release:
@@ -20,24 +28,21 @@ jobs:
           distribution: 'temurin'
           java-version: '21'
 
-      # Check if release is a draft
-      - name: Check if release is a draft
-        id: check_draft
+      # Extract version from the provided tag
+      - name: Extract version from input tag
+        id: extract_version
         run: |
-          if [ "${{ github.event.release.draft }}" != "true" ]; then
-            echo "This workflow only runs on draft releases. Exiting."
+          TAG="${{ github.event.inputs.tag }}"
+          if [[ ! "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+            echo "Error: Tag format must be v{x}.{y}.{z}"
             exit 1
           fi
-
-      # Extract version from the release tag
-      - name: Extract version from tag
-        id: extract_version
-        run: |
-          VERSION="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}"
+          VERSION="${TAG#v}"
           IFS='.' read -r MAJOR MINOR PATCH <<< "$VERSION"
           echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${MAJOR}.${MINOR}.${PATCH}-1.21.3" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "NEXT_SNAPSHOT_VERSION=${MAJOR}.${MINOR}.$((PATCH + 1))-1.21.3-SNAPSHOT" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
+
       # Update pom.xml to release version
       - name: Update version in pom.xml for release
         run: |
@@ -90,17 +95,18 @@ jobs:
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-      # Publish the draft release
-      - name: Publish draft release
-        if: ${{ steps.check_draft.outcome == 'success' }}
+      # Create and publish the release
+      - name: Create and publish release
         uses: actions/github-script@v6
         with:
           github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
-            const release_id = context.payload.release.id;
-            await github.rest.repos.updateRelease({
+            const tagName = context.payload.inputs.tag;
+            const releaseName = context.payload.inputs.release_name;
+            await github.rest.repos.createRelease({
               owner: context.repo.owner,
               repo: context.repo.repo,
-              release_id: release_id,
+              tag_name: tagName,
+              name: releaseName,
               draft: false
             });