diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..942abeb990
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+## 0.45.6 - 2024-09-19
+
+### Features
+
+- Added an `apalache-mc.bat` file to easily start Apalache on Windows, see #2980
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 35fef456c5..830a43526b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.45.5-SNAPSHOT
+0.45.6