diff --git a/.github/workflows/software-upgrade-test.yml b/.github/workflows/software-upgrade-test.yml
index 94ff83de7..0c3db49fd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/software-upgrade-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/software-upgrade-test.yml
@@ -184,9 +184,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Create new snapshot file
         run: |
-          NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH=/tmp/elys-snapshot-${{ github.head_ref }}.tar.lz4
+          SANITIZED_HEAD_REF=$(echo "${{ github.head_ref }}" | sed 's|/|_|g')
+          NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH="/tmp/elys-snapshot-${SANITIZED_HEAD_REF}.tar.lz4"
           echo "NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH=$NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          tar -cf - ~/.elys | lz4 -z - > $NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH
+          tar -cf - ~/.elys | lz4 -z - > "$NEW_SNAPSHOT_PATH"
 
       - name: Upload snapshot
         run: |
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade-assure/get-flags.go b/cmd/upgrade-assure/get-flags.go
index f9afc5873..253661705 100644
--- a/cmd/upgrade-assure/get-flags.go
+++ b/cmd/upgrade-assure/get-flags.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const (
 	flagSkipPrepareValidatorData = "skip-prepare-validator-data"
 	flagSkipSubmitProposal       = "skip-submit-proposal"
 	flagSkipUpgradeToNewBinary   = "skip-upgrade-to-new-binary"
+	flagSkipUnbondValidator      = "skip-unbond-validator"
 	flagChainId                  = "chain-id"
 	flagKeyringBackend           = "keyring-backend"
 	flagGenesisFilePath          = "genesis-file-path"
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ func getFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) (
 	skipPrepareValidatorData bool,
 	skipSubmitProposal bool,
 	skipUpgradeToNewBinary bool,
+	skipUnbondValidator bool,
 	chainId string,
 	keyringBackend string,
 	genesisFilePath string,
@@ -151,6 +153,11 @@ func getFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) (
 		log.Printf(ColorYellow + "skipping upgrade to new binary")
 	}
 
+	skipUnbondValidator, _ = cmd.Flags().GetBool(flagSkipUnbondValidator)
+	if skipUnbondValidator {
+		log.Printf(ColorYellow + "skipping unbond validator")
+	}
+
 	chainId, _ = cmd.Flags().GetString(flagChainId)
 	if chainId == "" {
 		log.Fatalf(ColorRed + "chain id is required")
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade-assure/query-operator-address.go b/cmd/upgrade-assure/query-operator-address.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25f87f195
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/upgrade-assure/query-operator-address.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func queryOperatorAddress(cmdPath, homePath, keyringBackend, validatorName string) string {
+	// Command and arguments
+	args := []string{"keys", "show", validatorName, "--bech", "val", "--home", homePath, "--keyring-backend", keyringBackend, "--address"}
+
+	// Execute the command
+	output, err := exec.Command(cmdPath, args...).CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf(ColorRed+"Failed to query validator pubkey: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// trim the output
+	outputStr := strings.TrimSpace(string(output))
+
+	return outputStr
+}
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade-assure/unbond-validator.go b/cmd/upgrade-assure/unbond-validator.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..784e78936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/upgrade-assure/unbond-validator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os/exec"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func unbondValidator(cmdPath, validatorKeyName, operatorAddress, validatorSelfDelegation, keyringBackend, chainId, rpc, broadcastMode, homePath string) {
+	// Command and arguments
+	args := []string{
+		"tx",
+		"staking",
+		"unbond",
+		operatorAddress,
+		validatorSelfDelegation,
+		"--from", validatorKeyName,
+		"--keyring-backend", keyringBackend,
+		"--chain-id", chainId,
+		"--node", rpc,
+		"--broadcast-mode", broadcastMode,
+		"--fees", "100000uelys",
+		"--gas", "1000000",
+		"--home", homePath,
+		"--output", "json",
+		"--yes",
+	}
+
+	// Execute the command
+	output, err := exec.Command(cmdPath, args...).CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf(ColorRed+"Command execution failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Parse output to find the transaction hash
+	txHash, err := parseTxHash(output)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf(ColorRed+"Failed to parse transaction hash: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	waitForTxConfirmation(cmdPath, rpc, txHash, 5*time.Minute)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade-assure/upgrade-assure.go b/cmd/upgrade-assure/upgrade-assure.go
index b99043c2f..76d4dd5b3 100644
--- a/cmd/upgrade-assure/upgrade-assure.go
+++ b/cmd/upgrade-assure/upgrade-assure.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func main() {
 			snapshotUrl, oldBinaryUrl, newBinaryUrl := getArgs(args)
 			// global flags
 			onlyStartWithNewBinary, skipSnapshot, skipChainInit, skipNodeStart, skipProposal, skipBinary,
-				skipCreateValidator, skipPrepareValidatorData, skipSubmitProposal, skipUpgradeToNewBinary,
+				skipCreateValidator, skipPrepareValidatorData, skipSubmitProposal, skipUpgradeToNewBinary, skipUnbondValidator,
 				chainId, keyringBackend, genesisFilePath, broadcastMode, dbEngine,
 				// timeouts
 				timeOutToWaitForService, timeOutToWaitForNextBlock,
@@ -220,6 +220,16 @@ func main() {
 					queryUpgradeApplied(newBinaryPath, rpc, newVersion)
 					queryUpgradeApplied(newBinaryPath, rpc2, newVersion)
 
+					if !skipUnbondValidator {
+						operatorAddress2 := queryOperatorAddress(newBinaryPath, homePath, keyringBackend, validatorKeyName2)
+
+						// unbound the second validator power
+						unbondValidator(newBinaryPath, validatorKeyName2, operatorAddress2, validatorSelfDelegation2, keyringBackend, chainId, rpc, broadcastMode, homePath)
+
+						// wait for next block
+						waitForNextBlock(newBinaryPath, rpc, moniker, timeOutForNextBlock)
+					}
+
 					// stop new binaries
 					stop(newBinaryCmd, newBinaryCmd2)
 				}
@@ -241,6 +251,7 @@ func main() {
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool(flagSkipPrepareValidatorData, false, "skip prepare validator data")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool(flagSkipSubmitProposal, false, "skip submit proposal")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool(flagSkipUpgradeToNewBinary, false, "skip upgrade to new binary")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool(flagSkipUnbondValidator, false, "skip unbond validator")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().String(flagChainId, "elystestnet-1", "chain id")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().String(flagKeyringBackend, "test", "keyring backend")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().String(flagGenesisFilePath, "/tmp/genesis.json", "genesis file path")