A report by Microsoft Corp. said the same Russian hackers behind the SolarWinds attack and other destructive efforts have now targeted organizations working on international development, human rights and other causes.

This started with a takeover of an email marketing account used by the U.S. Agency for International Development, according to Microsoft.

In retaliation for both the SolarWinds attack and election interference, President Joe Biden imposed severe penalties on Russia in April. Some officials, though, are asking Biden to be harsher against these latest offensives.

"We have to step up our cyber defenses, and we must make clear to Russia - and any other adversaries - that they will face consequences for this and any other malicious cyber activity," Senate Intelligence Committee chairperson Mark Warner said in a statement.

Microsoft said late last week a sophisticated Russian hacker outfit known as Nobelium had acquired access to an email marketing account used by the U.S. Agency for International Development to send malicious phishing emails to other organizations.

The emails included a link that, if clicked, would install a backdoor, allowing the hackers to steal data and infect other devices on networks. While most attacks were prevented, about 3,000 email accounts at 150 different institutions in two dozen countries, including government offices and research groups, were targeted.

Biden is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in three weeks. Biden wants to "restore predictability and stability" to the countries' relationship, according to the White House.

According to the Interfax news agency, Russia presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov denied his country's involvement and said Microsoft was making an "unfounded accusation."

The U.S. said it was moving on with a plan to improve federal agencies' computer network and software security, as part of an executive order issued in the aftermath of the SolarWinds attack.