Backport CI updates to release branch (test release branch)

• See merge request !2626 (merged)
• See merge request !2639 (merged)
• See merge request !2644 (merged)
• See merge request !2655 (merged)
• See merge request !2657 (merged)
• See merge request !2659 (merged)
• See merge request !2662 (merged)
• See merge request !2663 (merged)
• See merge request !2668 (merged)
• See merge request !2669 (merged)