diff --git a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_cu_ue_context_management.c b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_cu_ue_context_management.c
index 8b15ede8c5..8535934d36 100644
--- a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_cu_ue_context_management.c
+++ b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_cu_ue_context_management.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "openair2/LAYER2/MAC/mac_proto.h"
 #include "rrc_extern.h"
 #include "rrc_eNB_UE_context.h"
+#include "rrc_eNB_S1AP.h"
 
 extern f1ap_setup_req_t *f1ap_du_data_from_du;
 extern f1ap_cudu_ue_inst_t f1ap_cu_ue[MAX_eNB];
@@ -821,8 +822,14 @@ int CU_handle_UE_CONTEXT_RELEASE_REQUEST(instance_t       instance,
   }
   */
 
-  LOG_I(CU_F1AP, "Received UE_CONTEXT_RELEASE_REQUEST for RNTI %x, signalling to RRC\n", rnti);
-  rrc_mac_signal_ue_release(instance, rnti);
+  LOG_I(CU_F1AP, "Received UE CONTEXT RELEASE REQUEST: Trigger RRC for RNTI %x\n", rnti);
+  struct rrc_eNB_ue_context_s *ue_context_pP;
+  ue_context_pP = rrc_eNB_get_ue_context(RC.rrc[instance], rnti);
+  rrc_eNB_send_S1AP_UE_CONTEXT_RELEASE_REQ(
+      instance,
+      ue_context_pP,
+      S1AP_CAUSE_RADIO_NETWORK,
+      21); // send cause 21: connection with ue lost
 
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_decoder.c b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_decoder.c
index e31565243e..b26c943292 100644
--- a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_decoder.c
+++ b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_decoder.c
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ static int f1ap_decode_initiating_message(F1AP_F1AP_PDU_t *pdu)
     case F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextRelease:
       LOG_I(F1AP, "%s(): F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextRelease\n", __func__);
       break;
+    case F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextReleaseRequest:
+      LOG_I(F1AP, "%s(): F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextReleaseRequest\n", __func__);
+      break;
     // case F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_InitialContextSetup:
     //   res = asn_encode_to_new_buffer(NULL, ATS_CANONICAL_XER, &asn_DEF_F1AP_F1AP_PDU, pdu);
     //   message_id = F1AP_INITIAL_CONTEXT_SETUP_LOG;
diff --git a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_du_ue_context_management.c b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_du_ue_context_management.c
index e043572e4f..bde5e5809c 100644
--- a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_du_ue_context_management.c
+++ b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_du_ue_context_management.c
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ int DU_send_UE_CONTEXT_RELEASE_REQUEST(instance_t instance,
   memset(&pdu, 0, sizeof(pdu));
   pdu.present = F1AP_F1AP_PDU_PR_initiatingMessage;
   pdu.choice.initiatingMessage = (F1AP_InitiatingMessage_t *)calloc(1, sizeof(F1AP_InitiatingMessage_t));
-  pdu.choice.initiatingMessage->procedureCode = F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextRelease;
+  pdu.choice.initiatingMessage->procedureCode = F1AP_ProcedureCode_id_UEContextReleaseRequest;
   pdu.choice.initiatingMessage->criticality   = F1AP_Criticality_reject;
   pdu.choice.initiatingMessage->value.present = F1AP_InitiatingMessage__value_PR_UEContextReleaseRequest;
   out = &pdu.choice.initiatingMessage->value.choice.UEContextReleaseRequest;
diff --git a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_handlers.c b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_handlers.c
index 2068c743a8..a5b6a09963 100644
--- a/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_handlers.c
+++ b/openair2/F1AP/f1ap_handlers.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ f1ap_message_decoded_callback f1ap_messages_callback[][3] = {
   { 0, 0, 0 }, /* UEContextModification */
   { 0, 0, 0 }, /* UEContextModificationRequired */
   { 0, 0, 0 }, /* UEMobilityCommand */
-  { 0, 0, 0 }, /* UEContextReleaseRequest */
+  { CU_handle_UE_CONTEXT_RELEASE_REQUEST, 0, 0 }, /* UEContextReleaseRequest */
   { CU_handle_INITIAL_UL_RRC_MESSAGE_TRANSFER, 0, 0 }, /* InitialULRRCMessageTransfer */
   { DU_handle_DL_RRC_MESSAGE_TRANSFER, 0, 0 }, /* DLRRCMessageTransfer */
   { CU_handle_UL_RRC_MESSAGE_TRANSFER, 0, 0 }, /* ULRRCMessageTransfer */