diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..264b87e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory.java
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2024 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull;
+
+import com.google.gson.TypeAdapterFactory;
+import com.ryanharter.auto.value.gson.GsonTypeAdapterFactory;
+
+@GsonTypeAdapterFactory
+public abstract class AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory implements TypeAdapterFactory {
+
+  public static TypeAdapterFactory create() {
+    return new AutoValueGson_AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationModule.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationModule.java
index a058426..ddc6258 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/PullReplicationModule.java
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ObservableQueue;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfigModule;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.StartReplicationCapability;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.DeleteRefJob;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchApiCapability;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchJob;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.auth.PullReplicationGroupModule;
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@
     bind(RevisionReader.class).in(Scopes.SINGLETON);
     bind(ApplyObject.class);
     install(new FactoryModuleBuilder().build(FetchJob.Factory.class));
+    install(new FactoryModuleBuilder().build(DeleteRefJob.Factory.class));
     install(new ApplyObjectCacheModule());
 
     install(
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
index baeb330..d9b47d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueue.java
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 import com.google.inject.Singleton;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ObservableQueue;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.FetchResultProcessing.GitUpdateProcessing;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.BatchApplyObjectData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.exception.MissingParentObjectException;
@@ -611,13 +612,13 @@
 
     boolean resultIsSuccessful = true;
 
-    List<String> filteredRefs =
+    List<RefInput> filteredRefs =
         refs.stream()
-            .map(ReferenceUpdatedEvent::refName)
-            .filter(refName -> source.wouldFetchProject(project) && source.wouldFetchRef(refName))
+            .map(ref -> RefInput.create(ref.refName(), ref.isDelete()))
+            .filter(ref -> source.wouldFetchProject(project) && source.wouldFetchRef(ref.refName()))
             .collect(Collectors.toList());
 
-    String refsStr = String.join(",", filteredRefs);
+    String refsStr = filteredRefs.stream().map(RefInput::refName).collect(Collectors.joining(","));
     FetchApiClient fetchClient = fetchClientFactory.create(source);
 
     for (String apiUrl : source.getApis()) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefCommand.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefCommand.java
index 3a7d0ff..df13944 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefCommand.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefCommand.java
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.fetch.RefUpdateState;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.Set;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.ObjectId;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Ref;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.RefUpdate;
@@ -67,6 +68,18 @@
     this.gitManager = gitManagerProvider.get();
   }
 
+  public void deleteRefsSync(
+      Project.NameKey name, Set<String> deletedRefNames, String sourceLabel) {
+    deletedRefNames.forEach(
+        r -> {
+          try {
+            deleteRef(name, r, sourceLabel);
+          } catch (RestApiException | IOException e) {
+            repLog.error("Could not delete ref {}:{} from source {}", name.get(), r, sourceLabel);
+          }
+        });
+  }
+
   public void deleteRef(Project.NameKey name, String refName, String sourceLabel)
       throws IOException, RestApiException {
     Source source =
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefJob.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefJob.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acc40cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/DeleteRefJob.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2024 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
+import com.google.inject.Inject;
+import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.BatchInput;
+
+public class DeleteRefJob implements Runnable {
+  public interface Factory {
+    DeleteRefJob create(Project.NameKey project, BatchInput input);
+  }
+
+  private final DeleteRefCommand command;
+  private final Project.NameKey project;
+  private final BatchInput batchInput;
+
+  @Inject
+  public DeleteRefJob(
+      DeleteRefCommand command,
+      @Assisted Project.NameKey project,
+      @Assisted BatchInput batchInput) {
+    this.command = command;
+    this.project = project;
+    this.batchInput = batchInput;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void run() {
+    command.deleteRefsSync(project, batchInput.getDeletedRefNames(), batchInput.label);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchAction.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchAction.java
index 38d0cdd..9cb9285 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchAction.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchAction.java
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
 
+import com.google.auto.value.AutoValue;
 import com.google.common.base.Strings;
+import com.google.gerrit.common.Nullable;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.registration.DynamicItem;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.AuthException;
@@ -30,6 +32,9 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.WorkQueue.Task;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.ioutil.HexFormat;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectResource;
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.TypeAdapter;
+import com.google.gson.annotations.SerializedName;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import com.google.inject.Singleton;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.Input;
@@ -39,6 +44,7 @@
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException;
+import java.util.function.Predicate;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import java.util.stream.Stream;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.errors.TransportException;
@@ -46,43 +52,92 @@
 @Singleton
 public class FetchAction implements RestModifyView<ProjectResource, Input> {
   private final FetchCommand command;
+  private final DeleteRefCommand deleteRefCommand;
   private final WorkQueue workQueue;
   private final DynamicItem<UrlFormatter> urlFormatter;
   private final FetchPreconditions preConditions;
   private final Factory fetchJobFactory;
+  private final DeleteRefJob.Factory deleteJobFactory;
 
   @Inject
   public FetchAction(
       FetchCommand command,
+      DeleteRefCommand deleteRefCommand,
       WorkQueue workQueue,
       DynamicItem<UrlFormatter> urlFormatter,
       FetchPreconditions preConditions,
-      FetchJob.Factory fetchJobFactory) {
+      FetchJob.Factory fetchJobFactory,
+      DeleteRefJob.Factory deleteJobFactory) {
     this.command = command;
+    this.deleteRefCommand = deleteRefCommand;
     this.workQueue = workQueue;
     this.urlFormatter = urlFormatter;
     this.preConditions = preConditions;
     this.fetchJobFactory = fetchJobFactory;
+    this.deleteJobFactory = deleteJobFactory;
   }
 
   public static class Input {
     public String label;
     public String refName;
     public boolean async;
+    public boolean isDelete;
+  }
+
+  @AutoValue
+  public abstract static class RefInput {
+    public static final Predicate<RefInput> IS_DELETE = RefInput::isDelete;
+
+    @Nullable
+    @SerializedName("ref_name")
+    public abstract String refName();
+
+    @SerializedName("is_delete")
+    public abstract boolean isDelete();
+
+    public static RefInput create(@Nullable String refName, boolean isDelete) {
+      return new AutoValue_FetchAction_RefInput(refName, isDelete);
+    }
+
+    public static RefInput create(@Nullable String refName) {
+      return new AutoValue_FetchAction_RefInput(refName, false);
+    }
+
+    public static TypeAdapter<RefInput> typeAdapter(Gson gson) {
+      return new AutoValue_FetchAction_RefInput.GsonTypeAdapter(gson);
+    }
   }
 
   public static class BatchInput {
     public String label;
-    public Set<String> refsNames;
+    public Set<RefInput> refInputs;
     public boolean async;
 
     public static BatchInput fromInput(Input... input) {
       BatchInput batchInput = new BatchInput();
       batchInput.async = input[0].async;
       batchInput.label = input[0].label;
-      batchInput.refsNames = Stream.of(input).map(i -> i.refName).collect(Collectors.toSet());
+      batchInput.refInputs =
+          Stream.of(input)
+              .map(i -> RefInput.create(i.refName, i.isDelete))
+              .collect(Collectors.toSet());
       return batchInput;
     }
+
+    private Set<String> getFilteredRefNames(Predicate<RefInput> filterFunc) {
+      return refInputs.stream()
+          .filter(filterFunc)
+          .map(RefInput::refName)
+          .collect(Collectors.toSet());
+    }
+
+    public Set<String> getNonDeletedRefNames() {
+      return getFilteredRefNames(RefInput.IS_DELETE.negate());
+    }
+
+    public Set<String> getDeletedRefNames() {
+      return getFilteredRefNames(RefInput.IS_DELETE);
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -101,12 +156,12 @@
         throw new BadRequestException("Source label cannot be null or empty");
       }
 
-      if (batchInput.refsNames.isEmpty()) {
+      if (batchInput.refInputs.isEmpty()) {
         throw new BadRequestException("Ref-update refname cannot be null or empty");
       }
 
-      for (String refName : batchInput.refsNames) {
-        if (Strings.isNullOrEmpty(refName)) {
+      for (RefInput input : batchInput.refInputs) {
+        if (Strings.isNullOrEmpty(input.refName())) {
           throw new BadRequestException("Ref-update refname cannot be null or empty");
         }
       }
@@ -129,7 +184,16 @@
   private Response<?> applySync(Project.NameKey project, BatchInput input)
       throws InterruptedException, ExecutionException, RemoteConfigurationMissingException,
           TimeoutException, TransportException {
-    command.fetchSync(project, input.label, input.refsNames);
+    command.fetchSync(project, input.label, input.getNonDeletedRefNames());
+
+    /* git fetches and deletes cannot be handled atomically within the same transaction.
+    Here we choose to handle fetches first and then deletes:
+    - If the fetch fails delete is not even attempted.
+    - If the delete fails after the fetch then the client is left with some extra refs.
+    */
+    if (!input.getDeletedRefNames().isEmpty()) {
+      deleteRefCommand.deleteRefsSync(project, input.getDeletedRefNames(), input.label);
+    }
     return Response.created(input);
   }
 
@@ -146,6 +210,10 @@
         urlFormatter
             .get()
             .getRestUrl("a/config/server/tasks/" + HexFormat.fromInt(task.getTaskId()));
+
+    if (!batchInput.getDeletedRefNames().isEmpty()) {
+      workQueue.getDefaultQueue().submit(deleteJobFactory.create(project, batchInput));
+    }
     // We're in a HTTP handler, so must be present.
     checkState(url.isPresent());
     return Response.accepted(url.get());
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchJob.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchJob.java
index 0975045..d30ba74 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchJob.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchJob.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
   @Override
   public void run() {
     try {
-      command.fetchAsync(project, batchInput.label, batchInput.refsNames, metrics);
+      command.fetchAsync(project, batchInput.label, batchInput.getNonDeletedRefNames(), metrics);
     } catch (InterruptedException
         | ExecutionException
         | RemoteConfigurationMissingException
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
         | TransportException e) {
       log.atSevere().withCause(e).log(
           "Exception during the async fetch call for project %s, label %s and ref(s) name(s) %s",
-          project.get(), batchInput.label, batchInput.refsNames);
+          project.get(), batchInput.label, batchInput.getNonDeletedRefNames());
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/HttpPayloadGsonProvider.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/HttpPayloadGsonProvider.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf1bd86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/HttpPayloadGsonProvider.java
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2024 The Android Open Source Project
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api;
+
+import com.google.gerrit.json.OutputFormat;
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory;
+
+public class HttpPayloadGsonProvider {
+
+  public static Gson get() {
+    return OutputFormat.JSON
+        .newGsonBuilder()
+        .registerTypeAdapterFactory(AutoValueTypeAdapterFactory.create())
+        .create();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
index 368e61a..9618168 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilter.java
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.UnprocessableEntityException;
 import com.google.gerrit.httpd.AllRequestFilter;
 import com.google.gerrit.httpd.restapi.RestApiServlet;
-import com.google.gerrit.json.OutputFormat;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.AnonymousUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.CurrentUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.permissions.PermissionBackendException;
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@
     this.projectDeletionAction = projectDeletionAction;
     this.projectCache = projectCache;
     this.pluginName = pluginName;
-    this.gson = OutputFormat.JSON.newGsonBuilder().create();
+    this.gson = HttpPayloadGsonProvider.get();
     this.currentUserProvider = currentUserProvider;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java
index 414af37..d188247 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/util/PayloadSerDes.java
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.BadRequestException;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.Response;
 import com.google.gerrit.httpd.restapi.RestApiServlet;
-import com.google.gerrit.json.OutputFormat;
 import com.google.gson.Gson;
 import com.google.gson.stream.JsonReader;
 import com.google.inject.TypeLiteral;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.HttpPayloadGsonProvider;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionsInput;
 import java.io.BufferedReader;
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 public class PayloadSerDes {
   private static final FluentLogger logger = FluentLogger.forEnclosingClass();
-  private static final Gson gson = OutputFormat.JSON.newGsonBuilder().create();
+  private static final Gson gson = HttpPayloadGsonProvider.get();
 
   public static RevisionInput parseRevisionInput(HttpServletRequest httpRequest)
       throws BadRequestException, IOException {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
index 28c74c9..b908435 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchApiClient.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project.NameKey;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.Source;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.BatchApplyObjectData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData;
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -46,11 +47,11 @@
   }
 
   HttpResult callBatchFetch(
-      Project.NameKey project, List<String> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri, long startTimeNanos)
+      Project.NameKey project, List<RefInput> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri, long startTimeNanos)
       throws IOException;
 
   default HttpResult callBatchFetch(
-      Project.NameKey project, List<String> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri) throws IOException {
+      Project.NameKey project, List<RefInput> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri) throws IOException {
     return callBatchFetch(
         project, refsInBatch, targetUri, MILLISECONDS.toNanos(System.currentTimeMillis()));
   }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
index 614774d..cb03606 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClient.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.BearerTokenProvider;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.Source;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.PullReplicationApiRequestMetrics;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.BatchApplyObjectData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData;
@@ -151,19 +152,22 @@
     return executeRequest(post, bearerTokenProvider.get(), targetUri);
   }
 
-  private Boolean containsSyncFetchRef(List<String> refsInBatch) {
-    return refsInBatch.stream().anyMatch(syncRefsFilter::match);
+  private Boolean containsSyncFetchRef(List<RefInput> refsInBatch) {
+    return refsInBatch.stream().anyMatch(r -> syncRefsFilter.match(r.refName()));
   }
 
   @Override
   public HttpResult callBatchFetch(
-      NameKey project, List<String> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri, long startTimeNanos)
+      NameKey project, List<RefInput> refsInBatch, URIish targetUri, long startTimeNanos)
       throws IOException {
     boolean callAsync = !containsSyncFetchRef(refsInBatch);
-    String refsNamesBody = refsInBatch.stream().collect(Collectors.joining("\",\"", "\"", "\""));
+    String refsNamesBody =
+        refsInBatch.stream()
+            .map(r -> "{\"ref_name\":\"" + r.refName() + "\", \"is_delete\":" + r.isDelete() + "}")
+            .collect(Collectors.joining(","));
     String msgBody =
         String.format(
-            "{\"label\":\"%s\", \"refs_names\": [ %s ], \"async\":%s}",
+            "{\"label\":\"%s\", \"ref_inputs\": [ %s ], \"async\":%s}",
             instanceId, refsNamesBody, callAsync);
 
     String url = formatUrl(targetUri.toString(), project, "batch-fetch");
diff --git a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
index abc96ca..3b76be9 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
+++ b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
@@ -609,6 +609,10 @@
 >	*NOTE*: if any ref from a single batch matches `replication.syncRefs`
 >	filter, all refs in that batch are going to be fetched synchronously as
 >	a single git fetch operation.
+
+>	*NOTE*: Should ref deletions over apply-object/HTTP, they will
+>	be attempted over fetch/HTTP endpoint only when `enableBatchedRefs` is
+>	enabled.
 >
 >	By default, true.
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
index 84fee55..f494c2f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/ReplicationQueueTest.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.MergedConfigResource;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfigImpl;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.BatchApplyObjectData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.client.FetchApiClient;
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
+import java.util.stream.Stream;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.ObjectId;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.storage.file.FileBasedConfig;
@@ -503,7 +505,7 @@
     verify(fetchRestApiClient)
         .callBatchFetch(
             PROJECT,
-            List.of("refs/changes/01/1/1", "refs/changes/02/1/1"),
+            Stream.of("refs/changes/01/1/1", "refs/changes/02/1/1").map(RefInput::create).toList(),
             new URIish("http://localhost:18080"));
   }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/BatchFetchActionTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/BatchFetchActionTest.java
index 9dc736f..23b0fe1 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/BatchFetchActionTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/BatchFetchActionTest.java
@@ -22,11 +22,14 @@
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
 
+import com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.MergeConflictException;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.Response;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.RestApiException;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectResource;
-import java.util.Set;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
@@ -103,10 +106,12 @@
     return input;
   }
 
+  @VisibleForTesting
   private FetchAction.BatchInput createBatchInput(String... refNames) {
     FetchAction.BatchInput batchInput = new FetchAction.BatchInput();
     batchInput.label = label;
-    batchInput.refsNames = Set.of(refNames);
+    batchInput.refInputs =
+        Arrays.stream(refNames).map(RefInput::create).collect(Collectors.toSet());
     return batchInput;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchActionTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchActionTest.java
index 9653209..a4642ba 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchActionTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/FetchActionTest.java
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 import static org.apache.http.HttpStatus.SC_CREATED;
 import static org.mockito.ArgumentMatchers.any;
 import static org.mockito.ArgumentMatchers.anyString;
+import static org.mockito.ArgumentMatchers.eq;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.doThrow;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
 
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.registration.DynamicItem;
@@ -32,6 +34,8 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.WorkQueue;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.git.WorkQueue.Task;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectResource;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.BatchInput;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.exception.RemoteConfigurationMissingException;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -57,8 +61,11 @@
   int taskId = 1234;
 
   @Mock FetchCommand fetchCommand;
+  @Mock DeleteRefCommand deleteRefCommand;
   @Mock FetchJob fetchJob;
+  @Mock DeleteRefJob deleteRefJob;
   @Mock FetchJob.Factory fetchJobFactory;
+  @Mock DeleteRefJob.Factory deleteRefJobFactory;
   @Mock ProjectResource projectResource;
   @Mock WorkQueue workQueue;
   @Mock ScheduledExecutorService exceutorService;
@@ -70,6 +77,7 @@
   @Before
   public void setup() throws Exception {
     when(fetchJobFactory.create(any(), any(), any())).thenReturn(fetchJob);
+    when(deleteRefJobFactory.create(any(), any())).thenReturn(deleteRefJob);
     when(workQueue.getDefaultQueue()).thenReturn(exceutorService);
     when(urlFormatter.getRestUrl(anyString())).thenReturn(Optional.of(location));
     when(exceutorService.submit(any(Runnable.class)))
@@ -86,7 +94,13 @@
 
     fetchAction =
         new FetchAction(
-            fetchCommand, workQueue, urlFormatterDynamicItem, preConditions, fetchJobFactory);
+            fetchCommand,
+            deleteRefCommand,
+            workQueue,
+            urlFormatterDynamicItem,
+            preConditions,
+            fetchJobFactory,
+            deleteRefJobFactory);
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -104,13 +118,38 @@
   public void shouldReturnCreatedResponseCodeForBatchRefFetchAction() throws Exception {
     FetchAction.BatchInput batchInputParams = new FetchAction.BatchInput();
     batchInputParams.label = label;
-    batchInputParams.refsNames = Set.of(refName, altRefName);
+    batchInputParams.refInputs = Set.of(RefInput.create(refName), RefInput.create(altRefName));
 
     Response<?> response = fetchAction.apply(projectResource, batchInputParams);
 
     assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(SC_CREATED);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void shouldDeleteRefSync() throws Exception {
+    FetchAction.BatchInput batchInputParams = new FetchAction.BatchInput();
+    batchInputParams.label = label;
+    batchInputParams.refInputs = Set.of(RefInput.create(refName, true));
+
+    Response<?> response = fetchAction.apply(projectResource, batchInputParams);
+    verify(deleteRefCommand).deleteRefsSync(any(), eq(Set.of(refName)), eq(label));
+
+    assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(SC_CREATED);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldDeleteRefAsync() throws Exception {
+    FetchAction.BatchInput batchInputParams = new FetchAction.BatchInput();
+    batchInputParams.label = label;
+    batchInputParams.async = true;
+    batchInputParams.refInputs = Set.of(RefInput.create(refName, true));
+
+    Response<?> response = fetchAction.apply(projectResource, batchInputParams);
+    verify(deleteRefJobFactory).create(any(), eq(batchInputParams));
+
+    assertThat(response.statusCode()).isEqualTo(SC_ACCEPTED);
+  }
+
   @SuppressWarnings("cast")
   @Test
   public void shouldReturnSourceUrlAndrefNameAsAResponseBody() throws Exception {
@@ -120,11 +159,11 @@
 
     Response<?> response = fetchAction.apply(projectResource, inputParams);
 
-    FetchAction.BatchInput responseBatchInput = (FetchAction.BatchInput) response.value();
+    BatchInput responseBatchInput = (BatchInput) response.value();
 
     assertThat(responseBatchInput.label).isEqualTo(inputParams.label);
     assertThat(responseBatchInput.async).isEqualTo(inputParams.async);
-    assertThat(responseBatchInput.refsNames).containsExactly(inputParams.refName);
+    assertThat(responseBatchInput.refInputs).containsExactly(RefInput.create(inputParams.refName));
   }
 
   @Test(expected = BadRequestException.class)
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilterTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilterTest.java
index b193cd7..bc9e870 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilterTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/api/PullReplicationFilterTest.java
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
     byte[] payloadBatchFetch =
         ("{"
                 + "\"label\":\"Replication\", "
-                + "\"refs_names\": [ \"refs/heads/master\" , \"refs/heads/test\" ], "
+                + "\"ref_inputs\": [ {\"ref_name\":\"refs/heads/master\", \"is_delete\":false}, {\"ref_name\":\"refs/heads/test\", \"is_delete\":false} ], "
                 + "\"async\":false"
                 + "}")
             .getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
index 3aa5b5a..1c7b553 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/client/FetchRestApiClientBase.java
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.ReplicationConfig;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.BearerTokenProvider;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.Source;
+import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.FetchAction.RefInput;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.BatchApplyObjectData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionData;
 import com.googlesource.gerrit.plugins.replication.pull.api.data.RevisionObjectData;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
+import java.util.stream.Stream;
 import org.apache.http.Header;
 import org.apache.http.HttpHeaders;
 import org.apache.http.client.methods.HttpDelete;
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@
 
     objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(
         Project.nameKey("test_repo"),
-        List.of(refName, RefNames.REFS_HEADS + "test"),
+        List.of(RefInput.create(refName), RefInput.create(RefNames.REFS_HEADS + "test")),
         new URIish(api));
 
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPostCaptor.capture(), any());
@@ -253,19 +255,21 @@
             source);
 
     String testRef = RefNames.REFS_HEADS + "test";
-    List<String> refs = List.of(refName, testRef);
+    List<RefInput> refs = refInputs(refName, testRef);
     objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(Project.nameKey("test_repo"), refs, new URIish(api));
 
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPostCaptor.capture(), any());
 
     HttpPost httpPost = httpPostCaptor.getValue();
     String expectedPayload =
-        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"refs_names\": [ "
-            + '"'
+        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"ref_inputs\": ["
+            + " {\"ref_name\":\""
             + refName
-            + "\",\""
+            + "\", \"is_delete\":false}"
+            + ",{\"ref_name\":\""
             + testRef
-            + "\" ]"
+            + "\", \"is_delete\":false}"
+            + " ]"
             + ", \"async\":true}";
     assertThat(readPayload(httpPost)).isEqualTo(expectedPayload);
   }
@@ -305,7 +309,10 @@
   public void shouldCallSyncBatchFetchOnlyForMetaRef() throws Exception {
     String metaRefName = "refs/changes/01/101/meta";
     String expectedMetaRefPayload =
-        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"refs_names\": [ \"" + metaRefName + "\" ], \"async\":false}";
+        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"ref_inputs\": [ "
+            + "{\"ref_name\":\""
+            + metaRefName
+            + "\", \"is_delete\":false} ], \"async\":false}";
 
     when(config.getStringList("replication", null, "syncRefs"))
         .thenReturn(new String[] {"^refs\\/changes\\/.*\\/meta"});
@@ -322,7 +329,7 @@
             source);
 
     objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(
-        Project.nameKey("test_repo"), List.of(metaRefName), new URIish(api));
+        Project.nameKey("test_repo"), List.of(RefInput.create(metaRefName)), new URIish(api));
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPostCaptor.capture(), any());
     HttpPost httpPost = httpPostCaptor.getValue();
     assertThat(readPayload(httpPost)).isEqualTo(expectedMetaRefPayload);
@@ -343,19 +350,23 @@
   public void shouldCallBatchFetchEndpointWithPayload() throws Exception {
 
     String testRef = RefNames.REFS_HEADS + "test";
-    List<String> refs = List.of(refName, testRef);
+    List<RefInput> refs = refInputs(refName, testRef);
     objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(Project.nameKey("test_repo"), refs, new URIish(api));
 
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPostCaptor.capture(), any());
 
     HttpPost httpPost = httpPostCaptor.getValue();
     String expectedPayload =
-        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"refs_names\": [ "
-            + '"'
+        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"ref_inputs\": [ "
+            + "{\"ref_name\":\""
             + refName
-            + "\",\""
-            + refs.get(1)
-            + "\" ], \"async\":false}";
+            + "\", \"is_delete\":false}"
+            + ",{\"ref_name\":\""
+            + refs.get(1).refName()
+            + "\", \"is_delete\":"
+            + refs.get(1).isDelete()
+            + "}"
+            + " ], \"async\":false}";
     assertThat(readPayload(httpPost)).isEqualTo(expectedPayload);
   }
 
@@ -366,7 +377,7 @@
         .thenReturn(new String[] {"^refs\\/heads\\/test"});
     syncRefsFilter = new SyncRefsFilter(replicationConfig);
     String testRef = RefNames.REFS_HEADS + "test";
-    List<String> refs = List.of(refName, testRef);
+    List<RefInput> refs = refInputs(refName, testRef);
     objectUnderTest =
         new FetchRestApiClient(
             credentials,
@@ -383,8 +394,16 @@
 
     HttpPost httpPosts = httpPostCaptor.getValue();
     String expectedSyncPayload =
-        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"refs_names\": [ "
-            + refs.stream().map(r -> '"' + r + '"').collect(Collectors.joining(","))
+        "{\"label\":\"Replication\", \"ref_inputs\": [ "
+            + refs.stream()
+                .map(
+                    r ->
+                        "{\"ref_name\":\""
+                            + r.refName()
+                            + "\", \"is_delete\":"
+                            + r.isDelete()
+                            + "}")
+                .collect(Collectors.joining(","))
             + " ], \"async\":false}";
 
     assertThat(readPayload(httpPosts)).isEqualTo(expectedSyncPayload);
@@ -405,7 +424,8 @@
   @Test
   public void shouldSetContentTypeHeaderInBatchFetch() throws Exception {
 
-    objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(Project.nameKey("test_repo"), List.of(refName), new URIish(api));
+    objectUnderTest.callBatchFetch(
+        Project.nameKey("test_repo"), refInputs(refName), new URIish(api));
 
     verify(httpClient, times(1)).execute(httpPostCaptor.capture(), any());
 
@@ -733,4 +753,8 @@
     return createSampleRevisionData(
         commitObjectId, commitObject, treeObjectId, treeObject, blobObjectId, blobObject);
   }
+
+  private List<RefInput> refInputs(String... refs) {
+    return Stream.of(refs).map(RefInput::create).collect(Collectors.toList());
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/event/StreamEventListenerTest.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/event/StreamEventListenerTest.java
index 0f4bd33..c81820e 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/event/StreamEventListenerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/replication/pull/event/StreamEventListenerTest.java
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
 
     FetchAction.BatchInput batchInput = batchInputCaptor.getValue();
     assertThat(batchInput.label).isEqualTo(REMOTE_INSTANCE_ID);
-    assertThat(batchInput.refsNames).contains(TEST_REF_NAME);
+    assertThat(batchInput.refInputs).contains(FetchAction.RefInput.create(TEST_REF_NAME));
 
     verify(executor).submit(any(FetchJob.class));
   }
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
 
     FetchAction.BatchInput input = batchInputCaptor.getValue();
     assertThat(input.label).isEqualTo(REMOTE_INSTANCE_ID);
-    assertThat(input.refsNames).contains(FetchOne.ALL_REFS);
+    assertThat(input.refInputs).contains(FetchAction.RefInput.create(FetchOne.ALL_REFS));
 
     verify(executor).submit(any(FetchJob.class));
   }