The Moldovan parliament on Thursday approved a ban on Russian news programs in a bid to prevent Moscow's propaganda in the pro-Western country, AFP reports.

President Vladimir Putin's offensive has heightened tensions in Moldova, which is seeking EU membership and has a Moscow-backed separatist region, Transnistria.

The airing of Russian news broadcasts has been banned after the start of Moscow's offensive but parliament formally approved the legislation on the second and final reading on Thursday.

Moldova's television channels will now only be allowed to air entertainment programs from Russia and not political or analytical programs.

The new legislation also imposes fines and other penalties for broadcasting misinformation.

Moldova is largely Romanian-speaking but has a significant Russian-speaking minority.

Chisinau firmly backed Kyiv after Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.